…Association demands justice
CITIZENS COMPASS— A 58-year-old Nigerian, Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, has been reportedly shot dead in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fakunle was reportedly shot dead on Friday, at his residence in Kensington area of Johannesburg.
The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has demanded justice over the killing.
NICASA President, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, said the incident had left Nigerians in South Africa shocked and deeply saddened.
According to Onyekwelu, preliminary information suggested that two suspects entered Fakunle’s residence before opening fire on him. He said the bishop was reportedly shot more than seven times.
Fakunle, who was from Iye in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was described by the association as a victim whose death had caused deep pain within the Nigerian community in South Africa.
Onyekwelu said NICASA would use every lawful means available to ensure that justice was served.
“We therefore make a strong and unequivocal call on the South African Police Service and every relevant government authority to pursue this matter with the highest level of urgency, professionalism and transparency.
“We demand a thorough and credible investigation that will establish exactly what happened, identify all those responsible, apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that they are brought before the courts to face the full might of the law.”
He described the killing as a serious act of violence that had affected both Fakunle’s family and the wider Nigerian community.
This was not merely an ordinary loss of life; it was a horrific and senseless act of violence that has robbed a family of a loved one and the Nigerian community of another precious life.
“NICASA condemns this barbaric killing in the strongest possible terms. Enough is enough.
“The continued loss of Nigerian lives through violent crime is deeply disturbing and cannot be allowed to become normal or treated as just another statistic. Every Nigerian life is valuable, and every murder deserves justice.”
The NICASA president disclosed that the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg had been informed about the incident.
