Nigerian Man Shot Dead at Pretoria Bar After Dispute Over Drinking Glass

A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Olatunde Olaleye, has been shot dead while working at a bar in Pretoria, South Africa, the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) has disclosed.

Olaleye, a father of two and indigene of Ikere-Ekiti, was reportedly killed on September 21 at Spanata Bar and Grills in Mamelodi, Pretoria, according to a report by TheCable.

NUSA President-General, Smart Nwobi, said the circumstances surrounding the incident were particularly concerning. According to reports cited by the union, Olaleye was allegedly shot by a South African national following an argument over whether a drinking glass could be taken outside the bar.

Nwobi further alleged that the suspect returned to the premises after the shooting and threatened the management, warning that members of his group would return.

The NUSA leader described Olaleye’s death as a devastating loss to his family and the Nigerian community, calling for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.

He also urged the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa, including the Consulate-General and the High Commission in Pretoria, to engage the South African authorities and use available diplomatic channels to pursue justice and strengthen the protection of Nigerians living in the country.

Nwobi expressed condolences to Olaleye’s wife, two children and other members of the Nigerian community, while reiterating the union’s demand for accountability in the case.

Olaleye’s killing comes amid other reported cases involving the deaths of Nigerians in South Africa. A Nigerian lecturer at the University of Fort Hare, Ayodele Odularu, was reportedly found dead at her residence in the Eastern Cape on August 16. Earlier, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that two Nigerians, Taiwo Fakunle and James Nwankwo, were killed in separate incidents linked to xenophobic attacks on September 4 and 5.