Another group of Nigerians fleeing rising xenophobic violence in South Africa has arrived in Lagos as the Federal Government continues its evacuation efforts.
A total of about 268 returnees were airlifted from Johannesburg to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Friday aboard an Air Peace charter flight funded by the government.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the evacuation was carried out on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, who ordered that the exercise continue despite the June 30 deadline issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa.
She noted that earlier flights had already brought home nearly 600 Nigerians, adding that the ongoing exercise targets citizens who voluntarily registered and were cleared for evacuation.
The evacuations come amid renewed anti-immigrant protests across South Africa, where foreign nationals have faced attacks, looting, and displacement. At least four people have been reported killed in the latest wave of violence, with thousands of migrants fleeing affected areas.
Several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Zimbabwe, have initiated voluntary repatriation programs for their citizens as tensions continue to rise.
The Nigerian government says it remains committed to protecting its citizens abroad and is considering diplomatic engagement with South African authorities over losses suffered by affected Nigerians.
