The Nigerian community in South Africa has announced that one Clement Nwaogu was burnt alive by a mob in the latest xenophobia attack in that country.
The Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Habib Miller, who is based in Pretoria, confirmed the killing of Okoro in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He said the victim, a native of Njikoka in Anambra State and an upholsterer in South Africa, was attacked and killed by a mob in Rustenburg, North West Province.
Miller said that the victim was murdered in cold blood over his accent and habit, which the mobsters supposedly found offensive.
“The mob descended on him like a common criminal with all sorts of dangerous weapons in the presence of South African police officers.
“Eyewitnesses say the victim beckoned for help from the police to intervene and help him, but they turned a blind eye.
“When Nwaogu could no longer persevere, he ran for safety; the mob chased and caught him, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze,” he said.
Miller said that the mob then left Nwaogu when they thought he had died.
The spokesman said that shortly after the mob left Nwaogu that some passersby called emergency personnel, who later took the victim’s charred body to the hospital.
“The eyewitnesses feeling that the victim was still alive called for help; unfortunately, Nwaogu could not survive the ordeal and died at Job Shimankane Hospital in Rustenburg,” he said.
Comments