First batch of Nigerians fleeing South Africa xenophobia arrives in Lagos

On Thursday morning, Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos received its first group of Nigerians who had been airlifted from South Africa. These evacuees landed aboard an Air Peace charter flight that had departed Wednesday night from Johannesburg's O.R.

Tambo International Airport. Between 258 and 262 citizens disembarked, accompanied by officials representing Nigeria's diplomatic presence in South Africa.

Xenophobic violence surged in April 2026, driven by opposition groups mobilizing against irregular migration. These citizen-led movements issued orders requiring undocumented foreign nationals to depart by June 30.

President Bola Tinubu authorized the Federal Government's repatriation initiative to ensure the safety of at-risk Nigerian nationals. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of at least 270 nationals will return through successive flights being coordinated.

Funding the entire operation and delivering arrival support falls under the government's purview. Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiy, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, characterized this undertaking as demonstrating the administration's resolve to defend Nigerian citizens' wellbeing wherever they live.

Many who came back have detailed incidents involving harassment, intimidation, and violent conduct while residing in South Africa. Evacuees voiced complaints regarding discriminatory practices, particularly relating to document processing requirements imposed by authorities.

Most have concluded that rebuilding their existence within Nigeria represents a preferable path than enduring continued hardship in the diaspora.