The death of a Nigerian man identified as Kelechi, originally from Awka North in Anambra State, following a violent encounter with Swiss police in Lausanne, Switzerland, has ignited fresh outrage and protests. Disturbing video footage obtained by 9News Nigeria captures Kelechi's final moments, showing him pinned to the street by a Swiss police officer while repeatedly shouting, "You're hurting me." The incident, which occurred on a Sunday night, culminated in Kelechi's collapse and death less than an hour later at a police station.
Swiss prosecutors have confirmed the 39-year-old's death, stating he collapsed while in police custody and died despite emergency resuscitation efforts. The Vaud regional Public Prosecutor’s Office has since launched a criminal investigation to ascertain the precise circumstances leading to his demise. According to authorities, police initially approached Kelechi in central Lausanne around 9:00 p.m. local time during a routine check, claiming his behavior raised suspicions of possible drug-related activity. They allege he fled but was apprehended after resisting arrest. Officials stated that "after the situation calmed down, the man was taken to the police station for questioning," but "during the intervention, he became unwell and died shortly before 10:00 p.m., despite efforts by emergency medical services to revive him." An autopsy has been ordered, and further forensic investigations are underway with the assistance of forensic pathologists and crime scene specialists.
This tragic event is not an isolated incident but rather part of a troubling pattern of police-related deaths involving Black residents in Switzerland, particularly within the canton of Vaud. The Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS reports that four Black men died following police interventions in the region between 2016 and 2021, a trend that has previously sparked widespread protests against racism and police brutality. One prominent case involved Mike Ben Peter, another 39-year-old Nigerian, who died in 2018 after a forceful arrest during a drug search near Lausanne railway station. He was pinned face-down by six officers, suffered a heart attack, and died hours later in the hospital. In 2024, a Vaud appeals court notably upheld the acquittal of the officers involved, who had been charged with negligent homicide. Of the other reported deaths in the region, two involved police shootings deemed acts of self-defense, while one case remains unresolved.
Kelechi’s death has significantly renewed concerns about systemic racial bias and the potential use of excessive force by law enforcement in Switzerland. The Nigerian community in Switzerland has responded with widespread protests, demanding justice for the young Nigerian man. When initially contacted, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), stated he was unaware of the incident and had not seen the video. Upon being provided with the footage by SaharaReporters, he described it as "sad and condemnable," emphasizing that "Every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty," and promised to follow up on the matter.
