Nigerian community disputes ActionSA’s claim that the victim was a drug dealer, alleges unlawful killing and threatens protest if justice is not served.

The Nigerian community in South Africa has threatened to embark on a protest to demand justice over the killing of a Nigerian national during an anti-drug operation in Gauteng Province.

The deceased, identified as Emeka Uzor, was reportedly shot on February 8, 2026, at a Carltex filling station in Windsor East, Randburg, a suburb of Johannesburg.

South African political party ActionSA confirmed that the shooting occurred during its anti-drug raid in the area.

In a statement, ActionSA said the operation involved its Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, Cllr Xolani Khumalo, and claimed Uzor was a Nigerian suspect linked to drug trafficking.

“ActionSA can confirm that during an anti-drug operation yesterday, a shooting incident occurred in which a Nigerian suspect, identified as being involved in drug trafficking, was shot,” the party stated.

The group added that drug syndicates had terrorised communities through violence and intimidation, stressing that it would continue to support “decisive and lawful measures” to dismantle criminal networks.

ActionSA further said its 10-Point Action Plan for Ekurhuleni empowered it to deploy resources ranging from cleaning up the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) to establishing specialised units to tackle drug syndicates and gangs, deploying crime-mapping technology, and strengthening Community Policing Forums.

Reacting to the incident, the President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Smart Nwobi, strongly rejected claims that Uzor was a drug dealer, accusing those involved in the operation of acting unlawfully.

Nwobi argued that if Uzor was truly involved in criminal activity, he should have been arrested rather than killed.

“What we are saying is that the victim is not a drug dealer. My question is this: do you shoot a drug dealer from a distance, or do you arrest a drug dealer?” he asked.

He also criticised what he described as a recurring narrative used to justify the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

“Anytime a Nigerian is killed carelessly, the narrative pushed is that maybe he is a fraudster or a drug dealer. That is the usual statement, and we are not going to take it easy this time,” Nwobi said.

According to him, a similar case occurred last year without any meaningful action, emboldening those responsible.

“There have been no diplomatic reactions, no strong statements from the government,” he added.

Nwobi further alleged that the individual linked to Uzor’s killing had previously been associated with the disappearance of another Nigerian.

He disclosed that the Nigerian community had formally written to the newly arrived Consul General, warning that protests would follow if urgent action was not taken to ensure justice.