South African police officer found guilty of killing Nigerian

Austin Luciano Reynold, a South African police constable, has
been found guilty of the murder of Ebuka Okoli, a Nigerian.

Okoli was killed in Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, in 2018.

He was reportedly shot at close range during an unauthorised
raid by the 24-year-old Reynold on the community where he
resides.

He was said to have been handcuffed, robbed by the police
officer who was off duty at the time of the raid.

During the trial on Friday, Shyam Gyanda, the presiding judge,
found the officer guilty on all four charges preferred against him
— one charge of murder and three charges of robbery.

In an interview in August, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), told TheCable that eight
policemen were on trial in South Africa for their alleged role in
the killing of Nigerian citizens.

“So, we are dealing with three things. There are xenophobic
attacks in South Africa – it is there. There is a high rate of
crime in South Africa – it is there. 20,000 murders per annum,” she
said.

“And then there is a case of our Nigerians – gangs and drug wars
– killing one another. But what we are saying to South Africa is
that no matter the circumstances, our people need to be protected.
We are getting to a tipping point where we cannot tolerate any more
killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

“And then we have eight South African policemen currently in
court, being investigated for their alleged involvement in killings
and maltreatment of Nigerians, and the case is being monitored by
the high commission in South Africa; Godwin Adama is the consul
general.

“So, what we are saying is this, like the case of those eight
policemen, it has to be concluded.”

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