No fewer than eight South African-based Nigerians have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in attacking police officers during a drug raid in the Northern Cape province, as stated by the South African Police in a statement shared on its X handle on Friday.
According to the police statement, the suspects not only resisted arrest but also inflicted damage on vehicles and other property during the incident.
The confrontation ensued when law enforcement officers were tracing information related to one of the Nigerian nationals suspected of drug possession.
As the police conducted the search, a large group of Nigerians reportedly launched an attack on the officers, prompting the use of rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
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Subsequently, one suspect was arrested for illegal drug possession, while three others were detained for public violence.
Additional charges of malicious damage to property were later pressed against them after they broke windows at the Kimberley Police Station where they were held.
Following this, another group of Nigerians allegedly approached the police station and issued threats.
Despite warnings from the Operational Commander to disperse, the group proceeded to damage police vehicles. As a result, four more suspects were arrested for malicious damage to property.
Koliswa Otola, the Police Commissioner for the province, commended the officers for their swift action in apprehending the suspects.
She emphasized that such lawless behavior would not be tolerated and affirmed the authorities’ commitment to upholding law and order in the Northern Cape Province.
The police are collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to verify the immigration status of the suspects and ensure due process is followed.
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