In a statement, Frank Onyekwelu, President General of NICASA, said preliminary information available to the association indicated that Uzor was allegedly shot by a private security operative identified as Xolani Khumalo, with the involvement of members of his security team.
He noted that the circumstances surrounding the incident raise serious questions about the use of force, accountability, and respect for human life.
Onyekwelu described the killing as a grave violation of human rights and said it has left the Nigerian community in South Africa shocked and angered.
According to him, the death of Uzor is not only a
painful loss to his immediate family but also to Nigerians living in South Africa, many of whom already feel vulnerable amid recurring reports of violence against foreign nationals.
NICASA said the incident has reignited fears over the safety and security of migrants, warning that unresolved cases of violence could further deepen anxiety within migrant communities and strain relations between host communities and foreign nationals.
The association called on the South African Police Service to launch a full, transparent, and impartial investigation into the killing, stressing that justice must be served.
It urged law enforcement authorities to ensure that anyone found culpable, regardless of status or affiliation, is held accountable in accordance with the law.
NICASA also appealed to the Nigerian government to take a keen interest in the case, urging
Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa to closely monitor developments and provide necessary consular assistance and support to the family of the deceased.
While condemning the killing in the strongest terms, the association called on Nigerians living in South Africa to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, assuring them that legal and diplomatic channels are being pursued to address the matter.
Reaffirming its mandate, NICASA said it remains committed to defending the rights, dignity, and safety of Nigerians in the diaspora, adding that justice in the Uzor case would be critical in restoring confidence and preventing further erosion of trust among migrant communities.
