South Africa police say Nigerian detainee's death unrelated to anti‑immigrant protests

South African police announced that a Nigerian man who died while in custody in late June collapsed after being arrested for drug possession, and that his death was not connected to the recent surge in anti‑migrant protests.

Nigeria’s foreign ministry had alleged the man died during police interrogation two days before nationwide rallies against undocumented migrants and warned of possible action if further attacks on its citizens occurred. The South African Police Service rejected the claim, stating the drugs team arrested the man at his apartment, that drugs were found, and that paramedics declared him dead after he collapsed at a Pretoria police station. A police watchdog has been notified and will investigate. The incident occurs amid ongoing anti‑immigrant demonstrations in South Africa, which have occasionally turned violent, prompting concerns from rights groups that foreigners are being scapegoated for broader social problems.