Nigeria Evacuates 39 Citizens from South Africa Amid Attacks

The Federal Government of Nigeria has evacuated an additional 39 Nigerian nationals from South Africa as part of an ongoing emergency repatriation program due to recent xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals. The returnees departed Johannesburg aboard an Air Peace flight on Friday, with an expected arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos at 8:50 PM.

According to a statement from Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this special evacuation flight was arranged for Nigerians unable to return on Thursday despite having complete travel documents within the stipulated deadline. The government has organized additional airlifts to ensure no disruption in the ongoing pre-scheduled evacuation exercise.

The final evacuation flight is expected to bring a total of 300 Nigerians home, scheduled to arrive in the country next week. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated the government's commitment to the welfare, protection, and safe return of Nigerians affected by the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.