262 Nigerians Evacuated From South Africa Arrive Lagos

The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos.

Naija News understands that the returnees, numbering 262, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard a government-arranged evacuation flight operated by Air Peace.

The flight, which was coordinated by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies, was part of efforts to bring home Nigerians affected by the recent violence and anti-immigrant protests in South Africa.

The evacuees arrived safely at the airport, where officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and security agencies were on ground to receive them.

Returnees to undergo profiling

The returnees are expected to undergo documentation and profiling before being reunited with their families.

Government officials said the exercise was necessary to properly identify the evacuees and provide the needed support after their return.

The evacuation followed weeks of rising tension in South Africa, where renewed attacks on foreign nationals and foreign-owned businesses left many Nigerians and other African migrants in fear.

The returnees were flown in under a coordinated repatriation arrangement involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies.

More batches of Nigerian returnees are expected to arrive in the country, though the exact number of those still awaiting evacuation and their arrival schedule had yet to be confirmed.

FG cites safety concerns

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier said the evacuation became necessary following violent incidents that forced many Nigerians in South Africa to seek urgent relocation over safety concerns.

According to her, the Federal Government moved to repatriate affected citizens after reports of attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.

She said the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, was at the Lagos airport to receive the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu was, however, not present at the reception, as she was said to be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for discussions on the possible transfer of more than 100 Nigerian prisoners from Ethiopian correctional facilities back to Nigeria.

She said the affected inmates were being held in Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons in Addis Ababa, adding that four Nigerians had died in custody due to health and other related complications.

Other African countries evacuate citizens

At least five African countries have also evacuated their citizens from South Africa following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks.

The countries include Ghana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Malawi.

The violence and anti-immigrant protests have again drawn attention to the recurring attacks against African migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa.

The trend has persisted for decades, with the United Nations warning in 2022 that South Africa was “on the precipice of explosive xenophobic violence.”

The Federal Government had earlier assured Nigerians that it would continue to engage South African authorities to ensure the protection of Nigerians and prevent further escalation of tensions.

Officials said the evacuation exercise would continue as necessary to ensure the safety of citizens willing to return home.