Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Amid Tensions

The Nigerian Federal Government facilitated the return of 271 citizens from South Africa on the third evacuation flight, which landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly after 11 AM on Tuesday. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to assist Nigerians amid growing concerns over safety due to planned anti-immigrant protests.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, confirmed the arrival of this third batch, which follows two previous flights that repatriated 258 and 66 Nigerians, respectively. The evacuation program was initiated in response to a deadline set by vigilant groups demanding the departure of undocumented migrants from South Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed for calm and warned against violence and intimidation towards foreign nationals, emphasizing the need for lawful conduct. The Nigerian government continues to monitor the situation and may assess the need for additional evacuation flights as circumstances evolve.