262 Nigerians Evacuated From South Africa Land In Lagos

The first group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following a fresh wave of xenophobic violence has safely arrived in Lagos as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to protect affected citizens.

According to reports, the 262 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace evacuation flight arranged by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with relevant agencies.

The evacuation exercise was initiated in response to escalating anti-immigrant attacks and protests in parts of South Africa, which left many Nigerians and other African migrants fearing for their safety. Upon arrival, the evacuees were received by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and security personnel.

Authorities disclosed that the returnees will undergo documentation and profiling before being reunited with their families. The process is intended to properly identify those affected and facilitate the provision of necessary support and reintegration assistance.

Government officials explained that the evacuation operation followed weeks of heightened tension in South Africa, where attacks on foreign nationals and businesses have once again raised concerns over the safety of migrants. The repatriation exercise was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alongside other government institutions, with additional evacuation flights expected as efforts continue to bring willing Nigerians back home.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier stated that the decision to evacuate citizens became necessary after violent incidents forced many Nigerians to seek immediate relocation for their safety. She noted that the Federal Government acted swiftly after receiving reports of targeted attacks against foreign nationals.

The minister also revealed that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, represented the Federal Government at the Lagos airport to receive the returnees. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was absent from the reception as she was attending meetings in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, over discussions aimed at facilitating the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian inmates from Ethiopian correctional facilities back to Nigeria.

She disclosed that the affected prisoners are currently being held at Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons in Addis Ababa and added that four Nigerians had died in custody due to health-related and other complications.

Meanwhile, several African countries, including Ghana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Malawi, have also commenced the evacuation of their citizens following the latest outbreak of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The recurring violence against African migrants, refugees and asylum seekers has once again drawn international attention, with concerns growing over the persistent pattern of xenophobic incidents in the country. The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to engaging South African authorities while continuing evacuation efforts to ensure the safety of Nigerians willing to return home.