Nigeria Receives Fresh Batch Of 269 Citizens From South Africa Amid Escalating Xenophobic Protests

The ministry said the latest evacuation marks the second flight under the ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise, bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to 335.

The Nigerian government has received another group of 269 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, as authorities intensify efforts to bring home citizens choosing to leave the country as South Africans stormed the country’s streets in protests following the June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals.

The returnees arrived on an Air Peace flight that landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where they were received by the Director of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.

The Nigerian government on Monday announced that at least 271 Nigerian nationals in South Africa would be repatriated on Tuesday, as it continues its voluntary repatriation programme for citizens seeking to return home following the persisting wave of anti-immigration tensions and xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Tinubu's message to the returnees, assuring them that the Nigerian government remains committed to protecting Nigerians living abroad.

The ministry said the latest evacuation marks the second flight under the ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise, bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to 335.

It added that the Nigerian government would continue diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians who remain in the country.

The ministry further noted that the voluntary evacuation programme is still ongoing, with additional flights expected in the coming days to airlift Nigerians who have completed the screening and clearance process back to the country.

The latest evacuation follows a series of repatriation flights organised by the Nigerian government after renewed anti-immigration protests and xenophobic attacks in parts of South Africa triggered fears among many foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

Hundreds of Nigerians had requested assistance from Nigerian authorities to return home, with government officials previously confirming that more than 1,000 citizens had registered for the voluntary evacuation exercise.

The repatriation programme began earlier this month when the first batch of 262 Nigerians was flown into Lagos aboard an Air Peace flight.

Nigerians have frequently been among the primary targets of xenophobic violence in South Africa, alongside migrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Ethiopia, Somalia, and other African countries.

Over the years, several waves of xenophobic attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, destruction of businesses, and displacement of thousands of migrants.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused South African authorities of failing to adequately protect foreign nationals from mob violence and discrimination.

The latest developments have heightened fears among Nigerian communities living in South Africa, prompting many to seek government-assisted evacuation.

Despite repeated diplomatic assurances by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South African law enforcement agencies have consistently been accused of complicity, often standing by or actively participating in the profiling, harassment, and extortion of foreign nationals.