‘Police target local Nigerians for the benefit of their own pockets’

The police this week confirmed that allegations of victimisation and brutality against the local Nigerian community by police officials, will be investigated.

This comes after Polokwane Observer was approached by the Secretary General of the Nigerian Union of South Africa, Collins Mgbo, who expressed concern about the way police target local Nigerians for the benefit of their own pockets. The violent acts against Nigerians also borders on that of xenophobic attacks, according to Mgbo.

Since November, attacks, robberies and the brutal manhandling of Nigerians in Polokwane have become an almost weekly phenomenon.

Some are at fault

“I agree that there are Nigerians who regularly find themselves on the wrong side of the law because of drug-related crimes. In such incidents the police have all the right to arrest and prosecute the suspect, but the way in which it is done is unacceptable. Incidents where Nigerians are manhandled, beaten, kicked and robbed of money are at the order of the day. When suspects are arrested and have to appear before court, not even close to the same amount of evidence (money and drugs) that were confiscated are being presented in court,” Mgbo said.

Innocent also targeted

But this has now also turned out for the worst for law-abiding Nigerians, those who are trying to make an honest living in the city, he said.

Polokwane Observer met with one of the victims and the scars on his wrists are evident of handcuffs being tightened to such an extent that it cut into his flesh.

The shop owner, who wished to remain anonymous, was attacked in December just as he got into his car at a shopping centre in Bendor.

“Suddenly, several police officers stormed my car, opened the doors and handcuffed me. They forced me to show them where I was staying. After we arrived at my home they demanded drugs. I told them I am not a drug dealer and that I own a shop in town. Then they started assaulting me. They pulled a bag over my head and sprayed tear gas into the bag. I was hit with a pistol on the side of the head and the wound had to be stitched up. They continuously tightened the handcuffs until I was bleeding and they kicked me in the ribcage. All of this happened in front of my children, aged six and 12,” he said.

The most recent incident happened last week when a Nigerian walking along Jorissen Street was beaten up badly and robbed of R4 000.

Thick cop wallets

“Considering the cases reported to me, the local Nigerians were robbed of no less than R500 000 since November – whether it was legit money or not, they were robbed,” Mgbo said.

He said police officers know that Nigerian nationals usually have cash on them. “Some of it is earned by selling drugs while others are hard-earned cash. Some Nigerians cannot open bank accounts and have no other choice but to carry cash. If police confiscate illegally earned money and drugs, they do not book all of it in as evidence but only a small part thereof. Where is the rest?” Mgbo asked.

Incidents keep mounting

Mgbo gave a short breakdown of incidents across the city.

“In October last year two Nigerians dealing in drugs were severely beaten. One nearly succumbed to his injuries and thousands of Rand were taken from the two. In January, two innocent Nigerians were roughed up in the city centre. The month thereafter, police arrived at the house of a Nigerian in Magazyn Street.

He was also asked to produce the drugs he is hiding but beaten up when he indicated that he does not deal in drugs. There are also reports of Nigerians who are randomly picked up by police and taken to Snake Park where they are beaten up in the bush,” Mgbo said.

Police mum on the matter

Nigerians are living in fear of the South African police and innocent residents are scared as they can become the next target within a split second.

Their fear of the police is also the reason why they do not report these incidents at the station. Provincial Police Communications Head, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo referred the matter to spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe who said the complaints will be investigated.

He added that Nigerians who are victimised can report it to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).