South African authorities have opened an independent investigation through the Independent Police Investigative Directorate into the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibe, 42, after Western Cape Police admitted he collapsed and died during a police arrest operation in Bellville last Thursday.
South Africa has broken its silence — and the admission is significant.
The Western Cape Police on Monday confirmed that an independent investigation has been launched into the death of 42-year-old Nigerian national Chika Ibe, who died on July 23 during a police operation at Parksig Villas in Bellville, Cape Town. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, is handling the probe.
In a statement, the police acknowledged that “while the suspect was being placed under arrest, he allegedly became unwell and collapsed.” Officers “immediately requested emergency medical assistance,” paramedics responded and attempted resuscitation — but Ibe “was unfortunately declared deceased at the scene.”
As previously reported by Peoples Gazette, Ibe’s death triggered immediate public outrage and condemnation from the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa, which alleged he was subjected to severe beating, torture and suffocation before his death.
The police offered a different framing. According to their account, members of the Public Order Police Lockdown III Operation acted on intelligence about an unlicensed firearm, ammunition and drugs at the Bellville residence. Upon entering with permission, officers recovered an unlicensed firearm with ammunition, 258 mandrax tablets and a quantity of suspected crystal methamphetamine.
The police statement made no reference to the allegations of torture or excessive force raised by the Nigerian community and NICASA President Frank Onyekwelu, who had demanded that every officer found responsible be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The Western Cape Police confirmed the IPID investigation is standard procedure “in incidents of this nature,” saying the full circumstances surrounding the death remain under active review.
Ibe’s death has added further tension to an already volatile period for Africans living in South Africa, where xenophobic violence has continued to displace thousands of foreign nationals in recent months.
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