The Federal Government on Tuesday evacuated another 269 Nigerian nationals from South Africa as nationwide anti-immigration protests intensified across the Southern African nation, bringing the total number of Nigerians repatriated under the ongoing voluntary evacuation programme to about 600.
The latest batch of returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, aboard an Air Peace aircraft at about 10:54 a.m., after departing Johannesburg at about 5:00 a.m. local time.
The returnees were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The evacuation forms part of the Federal Government’s response to the worsening security situation in South Africa following anti-migrant demonstrations and threats issued by vigilante groups demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country by 30 June.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
According to the ministry, the evacuees were escorted by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and received by senior ministry officials led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.
Ebienfa said: “He conveyed the heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the returning nationals, reaffirming the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigerian nationals living outside the country.”
He added: “With the June 30 deadline on undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa, the federal government wishes to reiterate the fact that the evacuation process is still on course.”
The ministry also disclosed that additional evacuation flights would arrive in the coming days to airlift all Nigerians who had registered and completed the screening process for voluntary repatriation.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved the voluntary evacuation programme after reports of increasing hostility towards foreign nationals in South Africa.
Earlier this month, the Federal Government approved five Air Peace evacuation flights after screening more than 500 Nigerians who indicated willingness to return home. Before Tuesday’s operation, two previous evacuation exercises had brought back 328 Nigerians—262 on 11 June and another 66 on 25 June.
Meanwhile, South Africa witnessed widespread demonstrations on Tuesday as thousands of protesters marched in Johannesburg, Durban and other major cities demanding the removal of undocumented migrants.
Businesses in parts of Johannesburg and Durban remained closed while police officers, backed by private security personnel and members of the South African National Defence Force, were deployed to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Although authorities described most of the demonstrations as peaceful, several incidents of violence and looting were reported.
In Johannesburg’s Yeoville suburb, protesters allegedly threw bricks at houses occupied by migrants, while in Germiston, demonstrators reportedly moved from house to house, evicting suspected foreign nationals and demanding that police verify their immigration status.
Police also confirmed the arrest of five persons for allegedly looting a foreign-owned shop in Soweto, while about 10 others were arrested for looting in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Additional arrests were made following allegations of assault and intimidation against foreign nationals.
The demonstrations were organized by anti-migrant groups, including March and Operation Dudula.
Speaking during the protests, the leader of March and March, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, declared that they would protest every Thursday for the next six months to force the government to “get rid of” undocumented migrants who were still in South Africa.
A member of Operation Dudula also told the BBC they will push the police to arrest foreigners who are not legally in the country.
In Durban, groups of protesters dressed in traditional Zulu attire and carrying sticks and shields gathered in a public park, chanting: “abahambe”, which translates as: “Let them go”.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had on Monday met with leaders of protest groups to calm tensions ahead of the demonstrations.
While acknowledging growing public concerns over illegal immigration, Ramaphosa urged protesters to remain peaceful and warned that criminal acts would not be tolerated.
The unrest has prompted several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, to commence the evacuation of their citizens.
South African authorities say approximately 25,000 undocumented migrants have already been repatriated, while thousands more have taken refuge in temporary camps awaiting transportation back to their home countries amid fears of xenophobic attacks.
