THERE are strong indications that a massive
clampdown of Nigerians resident in South Africa looms as the government
of the country is about deporting thousands of Nigerian citizens.
On Wednesday February 3, 2016, South African police detectives
rounded up Nigerian nationals living in Kempton Park in an early morning
raid. However, the incident which began like a script from a movie has
taken a sinister dimension as the detainees have been transferred to
Lindela Prison.
Reports monitored in Lagos revealed that the bulk of the detainees are citizens of Nigerian in their thousands.
The prison located in Krugersdorp, West Johannesburg is a deportation
centre which in theory is the last address of anybody brought there
before they are deported from South Africa.
In August 2014, a High Court in Johannesburg ruled as unlawful and
unconstitutional, the detention of foreign nationals at the Lindela
Prison.
One of the wrongfully detained Nigerian who spoke to Sunday Sun from
Lindela Prison, disclosed that the bulk of the detainees are citizens
of Nigeria with a sprinkling of Zimbabweans and Congolese nationals.
“We are beaten and dehumanized by the South Africa Police who told us that they hate Nigeria and her citizens.
“They have refused to renew our papers, our lives are in serious
danger because they have resorted to drugging the foods they bring to
us.
“As Nigerians, we face constant police brutality and hatred. It is
sad that we are going through this harrowing experiences because we are
Nigerian nationals.”
A fortnight ago, a similar action by the South African police led to
the untimely death of a 33-year-old Nigerian, Daniel Chinedu Timothy.

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