Over 200 Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Arrive in Lagos Amid Xenophobic Attacks

The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos following renewed xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants in the country.

The returnees, numbering over 200, were flown into Nigeria aboard an Air Peace aircraft alongside government officials and crew members after growing concerns over their safety in South Africa.

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), security agencies, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were on hand at the airport to carry out documentation and profiling of the evacuees upon arrival.

Several top government officials, including representatives of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, and the Commissioner for Migrants and Refugees, received the returnees and assured them of support and reintegration assistance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, explained that the evacuation became necessary following violent incidents that left many Nigerians fearing for their safety and seeking urgent relocation.

She noted that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, represented the Federal Government at the reception ceremony held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she was unable to attend because she is currently in Addis Ababa, where she is engaged in discussions aimed at facilitating the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian prisoners from Ethiopian correctional facilities back to Nigeria.

According to the minister, the inmates are being held in Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison. She added that four Nigerians have reportedly died in custody due to health-related and other complications.

The Federal Government has assured the evacuated citizens of continued support as efforts are intensified to protect Nigerians abroad and address migration-related challenges