Nigeria awaits report of investigation on Nigerian killed in Germany

Nigeria awaits report of investigation on Nigerian killed in Germany

The Nigerian embassy in Germany is awaiting the outcome of the German authorities’ investigation into the killing of a Nigerian, Mrs Christy Schnudeck, allegedly shot by a policewoman.

Reports say Schnudeck, who hailed from Edo, was shot at a job centre in Frankfurt by a policewoman when she went to the facility to collect welfare claims on May 19, 2011.

On-going Investigations

Charge d’ Affaires in the embassy, Mr Femi Rotimi, told reporters on Friday in Berlin that the mission would follow the outcome of the investigation to ensure that justice was done.

Rotimi said: “immediately the incident happened, the embassy started making inquiry through the police, Nigerians and Nigerian leaders in Frankfurt, to get a clearer picture of the incident.

“It was at the point of making inquiries that we were told that after all, this lady was carrying  German passport; but then we didn't stop at that; we sent a very senior officer to Frankfurt to get adequate information on this matter.

He said that the German police had assured the embassy that the investigation and inquiry was going on.

Dispute  

German newspapers, reported that the reason behind the killing might not be unconnected with a dispute over government support money (about 300-600 Euros) between the deceased woman and a staff of the job centre.

Sources said that the Benin-born Nigerian woman wanted her support money in cash rather than the normal bank transfer payment.

According to an unconfirmed report, the refusal of the job centre official to heed her request led to the calling of the police who wanted to forcefully take her away from the job centre.

The deceased, who was mentally challenged, was furious and made an attempt to stab the policewoman at the job centre for homeless people and those with addiction problems

The policewoman was alleged to have acted in self-defence by fatally shooting Schnudeck in the stomach.

The 39-year-old was confirmed dead an hour later from the injuries sustained from the gunshot.

NAN/Williams