[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he death toll of Nigerians killed in South Africa has continued to climb with the recent killing of another Nigerian identified as Martin Ebuzoeme, a South African business man from Imo State by unknown assailants. It was gathered that the victim was killed in Yeoville, Johannesburg around 7:30pm on July 12.The killing came barely 24 hours after the visit of South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, to Nigeria.
Dr. Marcelli Oguh, House of Representatives hopeful for Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise federal constituency in Imo state, under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has joined other notable Nigerians in condemnations of the killing of Nigerian citizens resident in South Africa.
Oguh described the killing as act of criminality that can jeopardize the bilateral relationship of the two sister nations, attributing it to the xenophobic attacks, stressing that killing of Nigerians in South Africa had been on the increase in recent times.
He therefore called on the South African government to transparently investigate the killings to avoid reprisal attacks which may have negative economic effects on the nations. A source revealed that before the latest one, there was the assassination of Mr. Ozumba Tochukwu-Lawrence, by an unknown gunman at 10 Koppe, Middleburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa, on July 6. Another Nigerian, ThankGod Okoro, was also reportedly shot dead in Hamburg, Florida West Rand, Johannesburg, on April 9 by the South African Police Flying Squad. There was also the killing of Clement Nwaogu in April, a father of two, who was burnt to death by his assailants and so many other cases.