The South African police have promised to ensure the safety of Nigerians residing in South Africa, following the latest round of mob attacks that have left a Nigerian dead. The police gave the assurance when the leadership of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), led by its President, Mr Collins Mgbo, met stakeholders at Kimberley district in Northern Cape, South Africa, where a Nigerian died, following a mob attack. Mgbo said in a statement from Pretoria on Sunday that the meeting was attended by Brig. Rikhostso, Head of Kimberley Police Cluster, representatives of religious organisations, the host community and the South African widow of late Mr Nicholas John. John’s widow was identified as Ms. Caroline Chikoma, who is currently nursing a four-month-old baby. Mgbo said that the purpose of the meeting was to appeal to the police to make sure that justice was served in the tragic assault on John and for his killers to be brought to book. “Secondly, the meeting was able to establish a structure or team, comprising the police, Nigerians, churches and other migrant community organisations. “The responsibility of this group is to make sure that information is sent across to the police whenever there is a crisis so that the police can handle the matter quickly before it gets out of control. “The police have promised the Nigerian community that they will make sure their lives and properties are protected,’’ Mgbo said. The NUSA president advised Nigerians in Kimberly to go about their business and to make sure that they stayed away from illegal activities. On Feb. 17, announced the death of Nicholas John, attacks on foreigners by South African gangsters. Mgbo had said in a statement identified John as an indigene of Ogun State in Southwestern Nigeria, who made his living selling cars in South Africa’s Kimberley district in the Northern. The unionist disclosed also that John’s South African wife put to bed three months ago. On the circumstances that led to John’s death on Feb. 12, the NUSA president said that on Feb. 11, John was attacked by a South African gang for allegedly buying a stolen laptop. Mgbo said that the Nigerian was beaten alongside his friend, who the attackers believed was an accomplice, while the South African criminal who stole the laptop and sold it to John was left unharmed. Other Nigerians at the scene called in an ambulance and took John to the intensive care unit of Kimberley Hospital, where they were informed by the medical doctor on duty that John’s brain was damaged and that he stood no chance of making it. South Africa appears to have turned into a graveyard for young Nigerians, residing in that country to make their living.

  Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has distributed 2,700 smart phones and two cars to Imo youths as part of activities marking the St Valentine’s Day celebration. Uzodimma, who distributed the gifts during the ‘Hope for Imo’ Valentine Concert in Owerri on Saturday, also promised the recipients free airtime and data subscriptions. The two brand new Greely cars were presented to Mr Joshua Okeke from Orlu LGA and Miss Blessing Emekwe from Ikeduru LGA, who were winners in a lucky deep conducted at the venue of the programme. The governor reinstated his commitment to youth empowerment through job creation and called on the youths to help fish out criminal elements disturbing the peace of the state. He promised to replicate the gesture in the three senatorial zones of the state so that the technical empowerment would get to all the youths of the state. “I have come to give the youths the opportunity to be part of government and governance, to stop unemployment by empowering the youths. My government belongs to you, it is your government. “Imo youths and Imo people in general will in 18 more months see the magic on development,” he said. Earlier in an address, the Special Adviser to the governor on Social Media Influence and organiser of the concert, Mr Paschal Okechukwu, thanked the governor for his approval of the event. According to him, the programme is aimed at making Imo youths technologically sound and bringing them up to speed with their counterparts across the globe. “Imo youths are ready now, more than ever before, to work with the governor and contribute their quota to the good governance of the state,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the concert featured musical performances by popular artists including Mr Flavour and Chinyere Udoma. Also, prominent Imo citizens, who were in attendance, included former Gov. Ikedi Ohakim, members of the Federal and State legislature, top government officials and business moguls. (NAN)

  A commissioner in the Zamfara Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC), Alhaji Hashimu-Shehu Gazura is dead. He died in a ghastly motor accident on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gazura was also a former member, Zamfara House of Assembly, who represented Gummi 2 Constituency. Report of his death is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, Alhaji Mansur Bungudu. “He died yesterday (Friday) as a result of a ghastly motor accident on Yawuri Road in Kebbi State. “The deceased funeral prayer is scheduled to hold at Gummi Emir’s Palace on Saturday (yesterday) by 11:00 a.m.”