The aircraft conveying Nigerians repatriated from South Africa amid the ongoing hostilities against black migrants has arrived.

The plane touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, disclosed that “a total of 268 returnees and two officers and crew” were on board the evacuation flight.

She said that the special charter funded by the Federal Government and operated by Air Peace Airlines departed Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa at 5.36 a.m.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has directed that the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa at risk as a result of the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks continues, even after the deadline of 30th June 2026 issued by South African Anti-migrant groups and vigilantes.

“Three batches of returnees, almost 600 Nationals in total, had earlier been successfully evacuated from South Africa before the deadline.

“The evacuations remain ongoing. The Federal Government is committed to bringing home safely our Nationals who voluntarily registered to be evacuated and have been duly screened and cleared.

“Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in adherence to that unbreakable bond between citizen and state, remains dedicated to this mandate,” she said in a statement on her X handle on Friday.

The minister assured that the protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remains the priority of the government and a “central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” adding that the dignity of Nigerians abroad matters and will continue to be upheld.

Black migrants in South Africa have continued to face violent calls by indigenes to leave the country.

On Tuesday, thousands of people marched in cities across the Southern African nation to demand the departure of undocumented foreign nationals after a weeks-long campaign that has sent thousands fleeing and claimed four lives.

Police were out in force for the nationwide protests, which capped a campaign of demonstrations led by citizen-led vigilante groups that set an unofficial June 30 deadline for foreigners without papers to leave.

During the protests, there were isolated reports of looting, stone-throwing and confrontation, including near Johannesburg where security forces escorted a handful of foreign nationals away from a mob brandishing large sticks.

Demonstrators threw rocks at a building while marching with others during a demonstration by the “March and March” and Operation Dudula movements.

They waved flags and placards, watched by police in bulletproof jackets and riot helmets.

In the southeastern city of Durban, the Zulu heartland, protesters turned out in traditional warrior attire, carrying spears, whips and shields and some draped in leopard skins.

In tourist magnet Cape Town, only about 100 people joined a march through the city centre, passing a counterprotest against Afrophobia and xenophobia.

One of the continent’s wealthiest countries, South Africa is a magnet for migrant labour while grappling with an unemployment rate above 30 percent, high crime and a breakdown in services in many areas.

Groups mobilising against illegal immigrants claim they take jobs and services from locals, claims that analysts say are unfairly scapegoating foreign nationals for government failures.

“South Africans have been replaced by illegal foreigners, increasing unemployment,” the leader of the anti-immigrant March and March group, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, told a crowd in Durban.

At least two Mozambicans, an Ethiopian and a Malawian have been killed in the latest outburst of anti-immigrant violence, according to police.

Several African governments — including Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique — have organised voluntary repatriation flights and buses for their citizens.

However, the Nigerian government has said it will engage with the South African government to seek compensation for Nigerians forced to leave behind businesses and properties.

Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, who disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, said those being repatriated are Nigerians who voluntarily opted to return home ahead of the latest planned anti-immigrant protests.

The envoy said the Federal Government had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by returnees and would engage the South African government to seek adequate compensation.

“I have asked them (returnees) before they left yesterday to document very accurately those things they were leaving behind in terms of businesses, in terms of even cars, movable and immovable properties. We can now take it up with the South African government. That is the next step we are going to take.

“So, this repatriation will not end with just taking people to Nigeria. We are going to systematically follow up on the information given to us, and I told them to be very accurate with what they are going to give because we are going to work with the South African government to get to the exact locations of all these businesses, shops and properties and present them to the South African government for possible compensation because we will not allow the labour people have suffered to build over the years to just go down the drain or be taken over by people,” said Ajayi.

(Channels News)

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