The South African Police Service (SAPS) reported that eight Nigerian nationals were arrested in Kimberley after they allegedly attacked police officers and damaged SAPS vehicles on Thursday night.
The incident occurred during a search operation for a Nigerian national suspected of drug possession.
According to Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, the spokesperson for SAPS in the Northern Cape province, a large group of Nigerians attacked the police while they were searching. In response, the police used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
One suspect was arrested for illegal possession of drugs, while three others were detained for public violence. Additional charges of malicious damage to property were added when the suspects broke windows at the police station during processing.
Shortly after, another group of Nigerians approached the police station and threatened retaliation. The operational commander warned the group to disperse, but they damaged police vehicles before leaving. Four more Nigerian nationals were subsequently arrested for malicious damage to property.
Colonel Ehlers described the situation as “absolute chaos” and stated that the police are still assessing the extent of the damage to the SAPS vehicles. Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, the Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner of Police, welcomed the arrests and condemned the incident. She emphasized that anyone obstructing the police from carrying out their duties would be dealt with harshly.
Furthermore, Lieutenant General Otola confirmed that the police are collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to determine the legal status of the arrested individuals. She emphasized that the police will continue to uphold the authority of the state in the Northern Cape province and will not tolerate such lawless behaviour.
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The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating crime and maintaining public order. The SAPS and other relevant authorities will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and security of the community.
