Relief and tears of joy swept through the arrival hall of the Muritala Muhammed International airport Lagos yesterday as a second batch of 105 Nigerian returnees landed safely from South Africa, courtesy of a fully sponsored humanitarian airlift by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

The arrival brings the total number of repatriated citizens under the church’s emergency intervention scheme to 205, following an initial batch of 100 individuals who arrived earlier.

The rescue mission forms part of a broader intervention initiated by RCCG’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, following distress calls from Nigerians residing in South Africa who faced escalating hostility, economic hardship, and systemic harassment.

Under the arrangement, the church committed to sponsoring the air travel and logistics for 500 stranded citizens.

Speaking on behalf of the church at the reception, Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Special Duties and Chairman of the RCCG Task Force on South African Returnees, Pastor Benjamin Obunge, described the initiative as a direct response to a “save our soul” cry relayed through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.

Addressing questions regarding the criteria for selection, Obunge stressed that the intervention remains strictly non-discriminatory, serving all affected Nigerians regardless of religious background, ethnic origin, or church affiliation.

“Our General Overseer, moved with a heart of compassion, determined that the Church must step in to complement the efforts of the Federal Government. Those being brought back belong to different tribes, speak different tongues, and practice different religions. We do not even know if any of them are members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. They are simply Nigerians in need, and aiding them is our responsibility,” he said.

The latest arrival comprises a significant number of vulnerable dependents, including 55 adults, 45 children, and five infants, reflecting the family-centric nature of the evacuation efforts.

The repatriation exercise involves a multi-agency screening process in Johannesburg before boarding South African Airways flights. The Nigerian High Commission conducts initial profiling, which is subsequently verified by South African Home Affairs officials prior to departure.

Upon arrival in Nigeria, officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received the returnees to handle profiling, medical screening, and immediate welfare needs.

An official representing NEMA’s Lagos Operations unit confirmed that all 105 individuals arrived without medical emergencies. The agency is collecting detailed contact records to facilitate temporary shelter, local transport logistics, and long-term reintegration into their home states.

For many returnees, stepping onto Nigerian soil marked the end of prolonged insecurity, business losses, and police extortion in South Africa.

Eze Pauline Ijeoma, a food vendor from Imo State who lived in South Africa for 14 years, described how persistent targeting by law enforcement effectively crippled her livelihood following the death of her husband.

“Every time you go out to do business, the police arrest you for nothing and demand money,” Ijeoma recounted. “Even when your papers are complete, they still find reasons to extort you. It reached a point where going to sell food meant coming back with all your stock unsold because you spent the day in custody. We are just grateful to God and Pastor Adeboye for making it possible for us to return alive.”

Another returnee, Chukuma Augustine, noted that while the situation was not a formal war zone, targeted looting, business closures, and security threats made remaining impossible.

“Afrophobic attacks, killings, and the destruction of our businesses forced us to seek rescue. You couldn’t leave your house without fear. Redeemed came to our rescue when we had no other choice,” Augustine said.

With three more batches expected to complete the 500-person evacuation quota, RCCG Task Force officials assured that coordination with diplomats in Johannesburg remains ongoing to process the remaining applicants.

NEMA also officials reiterated their commitment to maintaining transportation corridors to reunite all returnees with their families across various state capitals over the coming days. (Guardian)