A 38-year-old Nigerian man, Chidi Emmanuel Okafor, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a police officer in Keimoes, Northern Cape, South Africa. The Upington Division of the High Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe, spokesperson for the Northern Cape Hawks, the crime took place in January 2020. Okafor attacked the police officer and his friend while they were sleeping. He fatally stabbed the officer, while his friend managed to escape with serious injuries.
Following the incident, Okafor fled and went into hiding, but authorities later traced and arrested him in Klerksdorp. After a lengthy trial, the court convicted him in August 2024 on charges of housebreaking with intent to commit murder, attempted murder, and murder.
Reacting to the sentencing, Major General Stephen Mabuela, Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Northern Cape, stated:
“The killing of police officers puts a strain on our crime-fighting efforts and can be considered a direct attack on the authority of the state. As such, we welcome and appreciate the sentence.”
Officials commended the Upington Hawks Serious Organised Crime unit for tracking down Okafor and securing his conviction. The ruling marks a significant victory for justice and serves as a strong warning to those who threaten the lives of law enforcement officers.
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