Nigeria’s calling for urgent diplomatic action after one of its citizens died in a violent confrontation with South African police.
Abuja authorities have denounced it as a barbaric and extra-judicial killing.
The incident involves Nigerian Victor Tochukwu Nnadi, who was allegedly choked as he lay handcuffed on a main street last Thursday.
South African police say Nadi resisted arrest after being suspected of dealing drugs.
The police say he died after swallowing heroin he was trying to sell.
Witnesses took pictures of the incident that show a body lying on the ground with a swollen face and blood coming from his mouth.
South African police say they are carrying out further investigations.
The Nigerian Union in South Africa, which represents
800 000 Nigerians living in South Africa, maintains there’s been no examination to confirm Nnadi died of heroin consumption.
Senior aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and the Nigerian diaspora Abike Dabiri-Erewa says the barbaric behaviour of the perpetrators is not only unacceptable, but also calls for urgent attention by diplomatic authorities in Nigeria and South Africa.
She says the extra judicial killing of Nigerians is unacceptable.
NUSA spokesman Emeka Ezinteje Collins says South African authorities tend to believe that Nigerian lives don’t matter.
In its latest report, an independent watchdog said 640 people had died from police brutality or in police custody in South Africa.