A Nigerian man living in South Africa has been allegedly tortured to death in controversial circumstances by South African police.

The Nigeria Union South Africa has confirmed that the man, Kingsley Ikeri was killed on August 30 in Kwazulu Natal Province.

Mr Bartholomeh Eziagulu, chairman of the Union in the province told Nigeria News Agency that the deceased who was a businessman and a native was allegedly tortured to death by the South African police.

He said the union’s investigations revealed that the police arrested Mr. Ikeri and a friend on suspicion that they were carrying hard drugs

He said while interrogating him, the police used plastic to cover his face to extort information from him.

“In the process, he suffocated. When the police took him to the hospital, he was confirmed dead,” he said.

Mr. Adetola Olubajo, the Secretary General of the Union, said the national secretariat had been informed about the death of the Nigerian.

He said the body had informed appropriate Nigerian authorities and the police in South Africa.

A total of 116 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa through extrajudicial means in the last two years, according to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Seven in 10 of the killings were carried out by the South African Police.