268 Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Land in Lagos

An aircraft conveying 268 Nigerian nationals evacuated from South Africa landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

The returnees were received on arrival after being airlifted back to Nigeria under evacuation arrangements coordinated by government authorities.

Officials at the airport supervised disembarkation and ensured the 268 citizens were properly processed and provided with necessary welfare support.

Authorities said the group had earlier gathered at an airport in South Africa ahead of the evacuation flight, which was scheduled to depart late Tuesday night for Nigeria.

The evacuation was prompted by a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner violence in South Africa. According to officials, recent attacks on foreign-owned businesses and communities instilled fear among Nigerian residents, while anti-immigrant protests in Pretoria and Johannesburg heightened safety concerns for nationals. The Nigerian government also referenced reports of systematic harassment, alleged extra-judicial killings and attacks on foreigners, and condemned the killing of two Nigerians allegedly assaulted by security personnel. Amid the hostility, more than 1,000 Nigerians registered for voluntary repatriation, with the Federal Government describing the exercise as “a response to the latest wave of anti-immigrant violence” in South Africa.

The government described the operation as a “citizen-centred” intervention to protect Nigerians who no longer felt safe and opted to return home voluntarily.

In a related development, South African authorities said the 268 returnees had been declared illegal residents and were issued a 5-year travel ban. Nigeria, however, insisted the evacuation was carried out solely on safety grounds amid the xenophobic tensions.

Further details on the circumstances surrounding their return and other logistics are expected to be made public by the authorities in due course.