The House of Representatives has taken up the case of Ebuka Nwoko, a Nigerian allegedly slain in South Africa, with members vowing to uncover the truth behind his tragic fate.
The life of Ebuka Nwoko, a 43-year-old Nigerian national fondly referred to as Jeff, was brutally cut short in May 2024, reportedly while in the custody of South African security agents in Danielskuil, Northern Cape.
On Wednesday, Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, the lawmaker representing Owerri’s federal constituency, raised a red flag over the escalating crisis faced by Nigerian citizens in South Africa, including gruesome killings, torture, and inhumane treatment, prompting an emergency debate.
Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, chair of the House Committee on Diaspora, levied damning allegations against the South African Police Service, accusing its members of perpetrating a long trail of human rights abuses.
“The recent tragic and painful death of Mr Ebuka Nwoko, a 43-year-old Nigerian allegedly murdered while in the custody of South African security officials, is yet another harrowing example of the severe mistreatment our compatriots face overseas.
The elected officials voiced outrage over the chronic disenfranchisement of Nigerian citizens, whose dignity and rights are systematically trampled upon even in nations that boast of their devotion to egalitarian values and legal frameworks.
The glaring contrast between South Africa’s erstwhile stature as a paragon of liberation and its current role as a haunting exemplar of institutionalized oppression has left the lawmakers incensed and resolved to act.
Read also: South Africa: Ramaphosa Calls For Unity As ANC Loses Majority
“We are saddened that Nigerian lives are continuously devalued and disregarded, even in nations that claim to uphold democratic values and the rule of law. South Africa, a nation we once looked to as a beacon of hope and progress, now stands as a stark reminder of the systemic injustice and abuse our people suffer abroad.
“We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the plight of our citizens in the Diaspora. Their cries for help and justice can no longer go unanswered. We must take decisive action to protect the lives, rights, and welfare of all Nigerians, regardless of where they reside,” the lawmaker said while bringing the matter before his colleagues.
Okere appealed to parliament to establish a dialogue with South Africa’s government and law enforcement agencies, ensuring a prompt and thorough investigation into Nwoko’s untimely death and the necessary measures to prevent future tragedies.
The House honored Nwoko’s life with a solemn moment of silence, before calling on the Federal Government to take concrete steps towards ensuring justice and protection for Nigerian citizens facing human rights violations in foreign countries.