The Federal Government has completed its emergency evacuation of Nigerians affected by recent xenophobic violence and anti-immigrant unrest in South Africa, bringing the final batch of returnees safely home. The last Air Peace evacuation flight arrived in Lagos with 305 Nigerians and three government officials, marking the end of a five-phase repatriation exercise.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the operation was launched in response to rising attacks and security concerns targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa. With the latest flight, a total of 1,490 Nigerians have now been voluntarily evacuated under the Federal Government’s intervention program. Officials said the exercise was fully funded by the government and coordinated in partnership with Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in South Africa.
The xenophobic unrest has forced thousands of African migrants from several countries to leave South Africa in recent weeks, prompting emergency repatriation efforts across the continent. While many returnees expressed gratitude for the government’s intervention, concerns remain over their reintegration and the broader challenge of protecting African migrants from recurring anti-immigrant violence in South Africa.
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