Police arrest four suspects for murder of Nigerian man in South Africa

Police in South Africa have arrested suspects in connection with the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian man, Chukwunta Friday Julius. 

The four suspects are accused of assaulting Chukwunta at Midrand’s Protea Estate residential complex on Saturday, December 7, 2024. 

Julius succumbed to his injuries at Tembisa Hospital on Wednesday morning, December 11, said police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo. 

“On Wednesday morning Midrand police arrested the first two suspects,” Masondo stated. 

Masondo said another two suspects were also arrested. The four male suspects are aged 20, 24, 27 and 28, he said. 

“The four suspects are in police custody.” 

The suspects made their first appearance before the Alexandra magistrate’s court on a charge of m8rder on Friday, December 13.

The Nigerian Union South Africa (Nusa) attended the court appearance to ensure justice was served. 

Nusa submitted a detailed report to Nigerian ambassador Alexander Temitope while a consular officer was appointed to join their legal team led by Nusa president-general advocate Smart Nwobi. 

“We want to ensure our presence is known and the importance of this matter is emphasised. We will continue to keep our community updated with further developments as they arise,” Nusa’s national publicity secretary Akindele Olunloyo said.

Narrating the event leading to the fatality, Chukwunta’s girlfriend, Lumka, explained that on Saturday evening while returning from an outing, they entered their residential complex, Protea Estate and encountered a vehicle blocking the path to their apartment. 

The deceased signalled with his horn for the vehicle to move but received no response.

Following this, the deceased exited his vehicle and approached the driver’s window of the blocking vehicle, politely requesting them to relocate their car. 

The driver refused, stating that they would only move when they felt ready to do so.

The deceased then reported the situation to the estate’s security personnel. 

While walking toward the security post, he was ambushed from behind by the driver of the blocking vehicle and several accomplices, leaving him incapacitated on the ground. No residents came forward to assist. 

Lumka stated that she pleaded with the security guard to contact emergency services or law enforcement but her pleas went unheeded.

She then contacted her father for assistance and only upon his arrival was the victim transported to Tembisa Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.