Speed Up The Trial Of Suspected Police Officers In The Killing Of Nigerians - Abike Dabiri-Erewa Urges South Africa

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has reiterated her call on the South African Police to speed up the trial of four policemen linked to the death of Pius Abiaziem.

NAN reports that the South African authorities noted that four members of the South African Police Service have been arrested and would be charged to court immediately.

Dabiri-Erewa made the call in a statement issued by Gabriel Odu, the Media Assistant, NIDCOM, in Abuja on Friday.

In furtherance to the arrest and trial of the suspects, she urged the South African Police to expedite action in the matter and speed up their trial and of others being tried for offence committed against Nigerians.

Abiaziem was reportedly picked up by South African police officers in an eatery and taken to his home for a search and interrogation.

An argument between him and the South African police officers degenerated so fast that a gunshot was fired, leading to Abiaziem’s death in South Africa on August 23.

The deceased was married to a South African who was present at the scene of the incident.

He reportedly asked the policemen to kill him in his house as he would not follow them to where they wanted to take him.

NAN reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Wednesday said his government is working to end killings of Nigerians in his country.

Ramaphosa said this in Japan, venue of the ongoing 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The South African leader said he feels pained by the situation, especially looking at the relationship between Nigeria and his country, which has spanned many years.