A 50-year-old Nigerian man, Jeremiah Okoye, has died while in police custody in Limpopo, South Africa.

Okoye, who had lived in South Africa for 22 years, resided at 71 Magazyn Street, Polokwane, before his untimely death.

The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, condemning what he described as persistent police brutality against Nigerians in South Africa and urging authorities to adhere to the rule of law.

“Investigations are ongoing as to what led to his untimely death,” Onyekwelu said. “We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constituted duties.”

Onyekwelu revealed that Nigeria’s High Commission and Consulate in South Africa had been informed of the incident.

He expressed concern about the recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, urging South African authorities to address what he called a “dangerous pattern.

“We hope that his death will not become a statistic like others before it. The death of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly under police custody, has become a recurring issue that needs to be stopped,” the NICASA president said.

Okoye, originally from Ezinifite Nnewi in Anambra State, Nigeria, was a long-time resident of South Africa.