Headline
Nigerian Killed In South Africa Anti-drug Operation, Protests Erupt
A Nigerian man has been shot dead during an anti-drug operation in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province, South Africa, triggering protests by Nigerians and renewed calls for accountability.
The incident occurred on Sunday, February 8, 2026, during an operation involving members of the opposition political party, ActionSA, led by its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Councillor Xolani Khumalo.
An eyewitness account said the deceased was inside his car when the shooting occurred.
According to the account, the man was asleep and suddenly woke up to find an individual standing on the bonnet of his vehicle.
The witness said the victim believed he was being hijacked and panicked.
READ ALSO:Nigeria’s Embassy In South Africa Disconnected Over Unpaid Electricity Bill
“He thought it was a hijack attempt and tried to drive away. That was when he was shot,” the eyewitness said.
ActionSA later confirmed the shooting in a statement released on Monday. The party said the incident happened during an anti-drug operation and described the deceased as a suspect allegedly linked to drug trafficking.
Confirming the incident, Khumalo, who issued the statement in his capacity as ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, said the operation was aimed at curbing drug-related activities in the area.
“The incident occurred during an anti-drug operation,” the statement said, adding that the deceased was “a suspect believed to be involved in drug trafficking.”
READ ALSO:South African Ambassador Found Dead Outside Paris Hotel
Following the shooting, tension rose as a group of Nigerian nationals gathered at the Linden Police Station, demanding Khumalo’s arrest and a full investigation into the killing.
Some protesters described the incident as excessive use of force and called on South African authorities to ensure justice.
As of the time of filing this report, South African police authorities had yet to release an official statement or detailed report clarifying the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The killing has continued to attract reactions online, with many Nigerians calling for a transparent investigation and urging diplomatic engagement to address concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Headline
Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges
A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.
Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.
Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.
READ ALSO:Indian National Arraigned In Lagos Over Alleged N22m Supermarket Fraud
He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.
According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.
The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.
READ ALSO:NDLEA Intercepts Indian Lady With 72 Parcels Of Heroin ON n Chocolate Wraps
“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.
Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.
The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.
Headline
Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran
The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.
READ ALSO:Strait Of Hormuz: Pakistan Thanks Trump For Pausing ‘Project Freedom’
“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.
“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.
Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.
Headline
US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran
The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.
The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.
A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.
READ ALSO:US Restricts Entry Routes For Travellers From DRC, Uganda, South Sudan Over Ebola Outbreak
The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.
Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.
Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
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