Nigerians Evacuated Amid Escalating Xenophobic Protests in South Africa
Hundreds of Nigerians have been repatriated following a surge in xenophobic violence and anti-immigrant protests across South African cities, as tensions flare in Johannesburg and beyond.
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Another 269 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on Tuesday aboard a repatriation flight operated by Air Peace, marking the second wave of evacuations from South Africa amid a surge in xenophobic attacks and mass protests targeting foreign nationals. The flight landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, according to a statement from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Daily Trust.
The evacuations follow widespread anti-immigrant demonstrations across major urban centers, including Sowetan, Johannesburg, and Durban. Reports from Peoples Gazette describe commercial areas as unusually quiet, with shops shuttered and streets largely deserted, reflecting the disruption caused by the unrest. The protests, which unfolded on June 30, have been marked by escalating tensions, including violent confrontations in Johannesburg where marchers were pelted with missiles by residents as they approached the Kwa Mai Mai meeting point, according to Sowetan Live and Timeslive.
Video footage circulating from the protests shows demonstrators setting a vehicle ablaze in Johannesburg’s central business district, underscoring the volatile atmosphere. While the protests were framed by participants as a stand against illegal immigration, they have triggered a broader wave of xenophobic sentiment, prompting Nigerian citizens to flee. Many evacuees were forced to abandon businesses and personal property, prompting Nigeria’s Federal Government to announce it will engage South African authorities over compensation, as reported by Vanguard News.
Despite ongoing repatriation efforts, concerns remain for Nigerians still stranded in South Africa. A migration expert cited by Legit.ng warned that delay in evacuation could prove dangerous, urging swift action to protect citizens amid rising hostility. The June 30 protests have reignited longstanding tensions over immigration in South Africa, a nation with a complex history of both regional leadership and internal socio-economic strain. As Nigerian officials prepare to open diplomatic discussions on restitution, the human toll of the violence continues to unfold—one flight, one evacuee, at a time.