Suspected Nigerian drug dealer attack police officers in South Africa

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has revealed that one of its officers was attacked by a suspected Nigerian drug dealer during an operation in Randburg, north of Johannesburg, on Sunday afternoon.

Officers were investigating a lead on the Nigerian suspect when they arrived at the site, according to a JMPD statement.

Following his claim that he was being robbed, the suspect asked for reinforcement, sparking a violent altercation.

According to the statement, “this resulted in a violent attack on one of the officers.”

Two of the suspects were shot in the subsequent pandemonium. While one suspect was treated on the spot for a hand wound and was taken into custody, the other suspect suffered critical injuries and was sent to Olivedale Hospital.

The gravely injured person was taken to the hospital by a third suspect, who was later located and arrested.

During the incident, a police vehicle was damaged, and the officer’s firearm was recovered by Douglasdale SAPS.

Lesiba Thobakgale, spokesperson for the South African Policing Union (SAPU), condemned the attack, stating, “An attack on the police is an attack on the state. Police killings or attacks should be declared treason as it is a crime against the state, and the state has a responsibility to protect police officers who are representing the state and not themselves.”

Thobakgale emphasised that such measures would demonstrate the government’s commitment to addressing these serious offenses.