Nigeria has called for a thorough investigation into the death of a 48-year-old Nigerian national who died after being arrested for possession of drugs in Cape Town.
The Nigerian government has demanded an urgent and transparent investigation into the death of one of its nationals after the 48-year-old man died following his arrest by South African police in Cape Town.
South African police have confirmed that an inquest docket was opened after the Nigerian man, identified by his government as James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, died on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
Nigeria has, however, made serious allegations about the circumstances surrounding Nwankwo’s death, claiming he was killed as a result of “gruesome interrogation techniques” by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Police have presented a different account, saying Nwankwo had been arrested for possession of drugs and complained of difficulty breathing while being transported to Lwandle police station.
