Eight Nigerian men arrested for allegedly attacking police officers in South Africa, made their second appearance in court and are set to formally apply for bail at the end of this month.
The accused; Onogu Nwaemeka, Kelecho Oken, Ebot Kennedy, Chijioke Steven, Charles Aknaji, Umemba Sophuru, Amajoyi Tochukwu, and Charles Okerie Onyedikash, appeared in the Kimberley District Court on Friday, April 26, 2024, where the matter was postponed to April 30.
The accused made their first appearance in court and were remanded on April 22.
They were arrested on charges of malicious injury to property, interference with the law, assault, as well as public violence after they attacked police officers at the Kimberley police station.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said police had arrested a Nigerian national and the men demanded he be released.
LIB reported that the incident, according to police, erupted from an incident where police officers were following up on information and whereabouts of a Nigerian nationals alleged to be in possession of drugs.
“Mayhem broke out as the police tried to contain the situation and the accused started to attack the police, as well as damage the state’s property,” said NPA spokesperson in the Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane.
“Specialised tactical police reinforcements were called and the eight accused were arrested,”
Senokoatsane explained that the matter was previously remanded for bail information, as well as further investigations.
“During their second appearance, the court heard that outstanding information was needed to enable the state to decide on this matter going forward,” he said.
The men remain in custody and are due back in court later this month.
LIB further reported that Nigerians Citizens in South Africa (NICASA) have debunked the report that Nigerians attacked cops and damaged a police station.
NICASA in a statement issued on Sunday, April 21, 2024, alleged that some Nigerians were victims of South African police brutality.
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