Xenophobia: 268 Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Arrive in Lagos
The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa amid the recent xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos.
A total of 268 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight organised as part of the Federal Government’s repatriation programme.
The flight, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed to Wednesday due to documentation and processing challenges before it eventually departed.
The evacuation follows rising concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, where renewed xenophobic violence has forced many foreign nationals to seek assistance to return home.
The Federal Government said over 1,000 Nigerians have expressed interest in leaving South Africa, with additional evacuation flights expected in the coming days.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier said the number of Nigerians seeking repatriation was increasing steadily.
She explained that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had been engaging South African authorities to facilitate the safe return of affected citizens, including those with unresolved immigration issues.
According to her, arrangements were made to ensure that Nigerians facing immigration challenges would be allowed to leave through evacuation flights rather than be detained.
The Nigerian Mission in South Africa also began screening and documentation of intending returnees to coordinate the exercise.
The process, initially expected to end over the weekend, was extended to accommodate more applicants.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the extension reflects the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
The statement added that citizen protection remains a key pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the ministry.
The arrival of the first batch signals the start of a wider evacuation effort aimed at supporting Nigerians affected by the unrest and ensuring their safe return home.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
