Nigerians flee Xenophobic attacks as 262 returnees depart South Africa

In view of the recent xenophobic attacks and the worsening atmosphere of hostility in South Africa, where Nigerians are viewed with suspicion by the locals, the federal government has begun the process of evacuating its nationals in South Africa. The first batch of 262 Nigerians is expected to land in Lagos on Thursday.

According to a statement released on Thursday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, this evacuation has been ordered by the President, Bola Tinubu, under the citizen diplomacy policy of the government for the safety of Nigerians, whose lives have become very precarious in South Africa.

“The evacuation plane, operated by Air Peace and paid for by the federal government, has landed from Johannesburg O.R Tambo International Airport carrying 262 Nigerian citizens with three government officials on board,” she said.

She stated that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, will receive them at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.”

“On this day, 11th June 2026, the first batch of our nationals who are being evacuated from South Africa as a result of the xenophobic attacks against African migrants taking place in that country will touch down on Nigerian soil,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

She noted that the government had put in place reception and support mechanisms to assist the returnees, many of whom were said to be traumatised by their experiences in South Africa.

“It will be a highly emotionally charged atmosphere as our traumatised citizens being evacuated from South Africa arrive at their home country today,” she stated.

“The Federal Government, through relevant ministries, departments and agencies, has put in place the necessary reception and support arrangements for the returnees before they are reunited with their families.”

In a message directed at the evacuees, the minister described their return as a testament to survival in the face of adversity.

“Your nation is waiting to embrace you with open arms. In advance, we say, ‘Welcome back to the Motherland’,” she added.

The minister also revealed that she was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, working on arrangements to secure the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian prisoners serving sentences in Ethiopian prisons back to Nigeria.

According to her, four Nigerian inmates have already died in Ethiopian prisons due to health complications and other circumstances.

The evacuation comes amid escalating tensions in South Africa, where anti-immigrant rhetoric and campaigns targeting foreign nationals have intensified in recent months.

Nigerians have frequently been among the primary targets of xenophobic violence in South Africa, alongside migrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Ethiopia, Somalia and other African countries.

Over the years, several waves of xenophobic attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, destruction of businesses and displacement of thousands of migrants.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused South African authorities of failing to adequately protect foreign nationals from mob violence and discrimination.

The latest developments have heightened fears among Nigerian communities living in South Africa, prompting many to seek government-assisted evacuation.

Despite repeated diplomatic assurances by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South African law enforcement agencies have consistently been accused of complicity—often standing by or actively participating in the profiling, harassment, and extortion of foreign nationals.

Faced with a failing economy, high local unemployment, and infrastructural decay, South African political actors have routinely used African migrants as scapegoats to divert attention from internal governance failures.