Olatunde Olaleye, a 40 year old Nigerian father of two from Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, has been shot dead while on duty at Spanata Bar and Grills in Mamelodi, Pretoria, South Africa.
The incident happened on Sunday, September 21, and was confirmed on Thursday by the President-General of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Smart Nwobi.
Nwobi said Olaleye’s death has thrown his wife, children and the Nigerian community in South Africa into deep grief.
According to preliminary reports, the deceased was allegedly shot by a South African national following a minor disagreement at the bar over whether a drinking glass could be taken outside.
The union leader added that the alleged attacker later returned to the premises to threaten the bar management, warning that members of his crew would come back.
Nwobi said NUSA is disturbed by the development, which adds to the growing number of Nigerians killed under troubling circumstances in South Africa.
He called on South African law enforcement agencies to carry out a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation to ensure justice is served.
“We cannot continue to lose Nigerians under circumstances that leave families devastated and communities traumatised,” he stated.
He also urged the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate-General to engage South African authorities through diplomatic channels to get justice for the deceased and strengthen protection for Nigerians in the country.
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