Nigeria Dispatches Citizens from South Africa Amid Rising Xenophobia
Nigeria has launched an evacuation of its citizens in South Africa, sending a flight carrying 268 Nigerians back to Lagos after they were registered by the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg. The evacuation follows similar efforts by Ghana, Zimbabwe and Malawi and comes just days before activists set a 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
The flight arrived in Lagos Wednesday evening after a 12‑hour journey from Johannesburg. Approximately 1,000 Nigerians had registered with the consulate to be repatriated, but only those on this flight have returned today.
The surge in anti‑migrant sentiment in South Africa is driven by an unemployment rate above 30 %, sparking protests in major cities and reports of xenophobic attacks. Critics point to migrants as a source of unemployment and pressure on public services, while the Nigerian consular staff insists that migrants comprise less than 10 % of the population and cannot be blamed for systemic failures.
"I’m leaving because of the conditions they give us. They say we must leave on or before 30th June. And because of how they are killing people, killing our brothers, I’m not safe," said one passenger, Justin, a Nigerian who has lived in South Africa since 1998.
Justin recounts being attacked in a taxi, leaving his belongings behind. He said locals “call us names and say we must leave this country”; he tried to beg the attackers and was met with insults.
Reports indicate that two Mozambican men were killed in the Western Cape earlier this month, though the police have not provided a motive. The Mozambican authorities claim a higher death toll due to xenophobia.
The South African Border Management Agency confirmed that none of the passengers on the flight possessed legal documents to remain in South Africa. Consul General Ninikanwa Okey‑Uche warned of potential undocumented status if visa processing is delayed.
The government’s measures, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, include jailing employers of undocumented workers, a dedicated court for deportations and a biometric database to curb identity theft. Ramaphosa also urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands against suspects of illegal residency.
With local government elections scheduled for November, the migration issue has become a major campaign theme, intensifying pressure on politicians to address xenophobic sentiments while ensuring public safety.
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