A disturbing video obtained by 9News Nigeria has revealed the final moments of a Nigerian man from Awka North in Anambra State, who died following a violent encounter with Swiss police in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In the footage, the man, identified as Kelechi, is seen pinned down on a street by a Swiss police officer. Despite his repeated cries of “You’re hurting me,” the officer continues to forcefully restrain him. The incident unfolded on Sunday night and ended with Kelechi collapsing and dying less than an hour later at a police station.
According to AFP, Swiss prosecutors confirmed that the 39-year-old man collapsed during police custody and died despite emergency resuscitation efforts. The Vaud regional Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
Authorities said police had approached the man in central Lausanne around 9:00 p.m. local time during a routine check. They claimed his behavior suggested possible drug-related activity. It was alleged that the man reportedly fled the scene but was later arrested after resisting.
“After the situation calmed down, the man was taken to the police station for questioning,” officials stated. “During the intervention, he became unwell and died shortly before 10:00 p.m., despite efforts by emergency medical services to revive him.”
The prosecutor’s office has ordered an autopsy and said further forensic investigations are ongoing. Forensic pathologists and crime scene experts are assisting with the probe.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of police-related deaths among Black residents in Switzerland, particularly in the canton of Vaud. According to the Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS, four Black men have died following police interventions in the region between 2016 and 2021, prompting widespread protests against racism and police brutality.
One of those cases involved Mike Ben Peter, a 39-year-old Nigerian who died in 2018 after a forceful arrest during a drug search near Lausanne railway station. Pinned face-down by six officers, he suffered a heart attack and died in hospital hours later. In 2024, a Vaud appeals court upheld the acquittal of the officers, who had been charged with negligent homicide.
Two other deaths involving police shootings were ruled acts of self-defence, while one case remains unresolved.
Kelechi’s death has sparked renewed concerns about systemic racial bias and the use of excessive force by law enforcement in Switzerland. The Nigerian community in Switzerland has embarked on widespread protests demanding justice for the young Nigerian man.
Meanwhile, efforts by 9News Nigeria to reach Nigerian authorities—including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora Affairs Commission—for comment or intervention have, so far, been unsuccessful. Contacts are still being made to secure an official response and possible requisite action.
