Nigerians mourn loss of fellow African

The killing of a security guard from Ghana has brought to light the little known fact that an increasing number of African immigrants are beginning to call Belize home. While some Africans in Belize, such as U.B. professor Dr. Joseph Iyo and sculptor Stephen Okeke, have achieved widespread notoriety, most labour in more commonplace occupations, particularly the growing field of private security. While there are no exact figures on the African population here, the greatest number hail from Nigeria. Today we spoke to two officers of the Nigerian Association of Belize about the loss of Kingsford Obeng.

Magdalene Nwabudike, Nigerian Association

“This issue of our brother. We felt it so much not just because he is an African. But anytime we hear about these killings on the TV. or where ever, we feel touched. Because when these souls go they are not coming back. And this issue of this man’s case…the distance it takes for us to come to this place. Now he’s dead. His family is not going to see him anymore. Even if tomorrow they might decide to bury the corpse that will be the final. The parents of the boy will not see him again. I don’t even know how they will get the pictures for the funeral or whatever will take place. So it is a really big loss.”

Gabriel Nwokocha, President Nigerian Association

“We were really not happy about it. And we want to say that the government should do something about this violence that is really gripping Belize and the Belizean people. The boys will see you and they will just hate you for the colour or where you come from and that shouldn’t be. It’s really disheartening. It’s really disheartening. I am really not happy about what happened because I mean, it could be me.”