Nigerians detained in South Africa not due to drugs – Union

The Nigeria Union in South Africa has clarified that the 14 Nigerians being held in detention in Rustenburg, South Africa, were not being held a a result of drug-related offences

The Assistant General Secretary of the union, Mr. Collins Mgbo, made this statement in a chat with reporters from Polokwane, South Africa.He restated that the Nigerians were arrested by the South African police for protesting the killing of a Nigerian in South Africa  last February.

No fewer than 118 Nigerians, mostly young people have been killed in South Africa since February, 2016, according to records.

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Mgbo said the union was worried by recent reports that the South African police detained the Nigerians because of drug-related offences.

“ This is absolutely false. Recall that during xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa, Nigerians recorded high casualty with so many properties destroyed.

“Some members of the Nigerian community were killed by mobs.

“All these made Nigerians in Rustenburg to mobilise and stage a peaceful protest against the killings and destructions.”

Mgbo said that in the process, the 14 Nigerians were arrested by the police and that they were still being detained.

According to him, the attacks in Rustenburg began when South Africans alleged that Nigerians sold drugs to a group that attacked taxi drivers in the city.

“They also alleged that a Nigerian abducted and raped a 16-year-old South African girl. On investigation, the union discovered that the allegations were false and we made the same report available to the police.”

He said, however, that the legal desk of the union was on top of the detention of the Nigerians and was working hard for their release, adding that the union was also following up on the recurring extra-judicial killing of Nigerians resident in South Africa.

Two Nigerians were recently killed in the country.