Xenophobia: Nigerian embassy packed, 269 return as S'Africa protests rise
The Federal Government has evacuated another 269 Nigerians from South Africa as renewed anti-immigrant protests intensified across the country, while assuring citizens who remain there of their safety and continued diplomatic protection.
The latest batch of evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg on Tuesday, bringing the number of Nigerians repatriated under the ongoing government evacuation programme to 335, following the return of 66 citizens last week.
The evacuation comes amid rising tensions in South Africa, where thousands of protesters marched in several cities demanding the deportation of undocumented migrants. The demonstrations also saw hundreds of distressed Nigerians converge on the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in anticipation of evacuation flights, leaving many temporarily stranded around the diplomatic mission.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Federal Government remained committed to evacuating all Nigerians who had indicated willingness to return home voluntarily, stressing that additional flights had been scheduled.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry said the evacuation exercise would continue despite the June 30 deadline announced by some South African groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
"The evacuation process is still on course and more flights are expected in the next few days to evacuate all Nigerians who have been screened and cleared to voluntarily return to the country," the statement said.
It added that Nigeria would continue to engage South African authorities at the highest diplomatic level to safeguard the lives, rights and interests of Nigerians residing in the country.
Receiving the returnees, the Director of African Affairs at the ministry, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe, conveyed President Bola Tinubu's message of solidarity and reassurance, saying the Federal Government remained committed to protecting Nigerians wherever they reside.
Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, explained that the large number of Nigerians gathered at the embassy resulted from misinformation circulated within sections of the Nigerian community, contrary to the mission's phased evacuation arrangement.
According to him, only screened individuals scheduled for specific flights were invited to report to the embassy, but many others arrived after unofficial announcements were circulated.
"The community announcement created unnecessary congestion at the mission because only those assigned to each batch were expected to report," Ajayi said.
He disclosed that the Nigerian High Commission had continued providing temporary accommodation, food and other humanitarian assistance to stranded Nigerians pending their evacuation.
Ajayi also confirmed that Nigerian authorities were working with South African police to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported killing of a Nigerian businessman popularly known as "Big Joe" in Mpumalanga Province, while investigations into earlier deaths involving Nigerian nationals remained ongoing.
The renewed protests, led by anti-immigrant groups, saw thousands of demonstrators march through major South African cities demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
South African police said the protests were largely peaceful, although isolated incidents of looting, vandalism and assaults were recorded, leading to arrests in Johannesburg, Soweto and KwaZulu-Natal Province.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appealed for calm ahead of the demonstrations, acknowledging concerns over illegal immigration while warning that protests must not degenerate into violence or intimidation.
"Some foreign nationals who live in South Africa are here lawfully. They work, study, invest and contribute positively to our society. They are entitled to the protection of our laws and Constitution," Ramaphosa said.
President of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Smart Nwobi, urged Nigerians to remain indoors during the protests while commending the Federal Government for sustaining the evacuation exercise.
He said the union, in collaboration with the Nigerian mission, had provided food, temporary shelter and relief materials for displaced Nigerians awaiting evacuation.
Nwobi disclosed that more than 600 Nigerians had already been screened for repatriation, while additional evacuation flights were expected in the coming days.
Similarly, Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Western Cape Province, Leo Azebeokhai, called for stronger diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Pretoria, saying many Nigerians became undocumented due to delays in passport renewals and immigration documentation.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to accelerate evacuation arrangements for stranded Nigerians who had already abandoned their homes after registering for voluntary return.
Retired Nigerian diplomats urged the Federal Government to deepen diplomatic engagement with South African authorities, establish an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate evacuation and reintegration of returnees, and pursue long-term solutions through the African Union.
Meanwhile, the National Association of University Students (NAUS) condemned the renewed xenophobic attacks and threatened nationwide peaceful protests if South African authorities failed to guarantee the safety of Nigerians within one week.
The association called for thorough investigations into reported attacks on Nigerians and prosecution of those responsible.
South African authorities said about 50,000 undocumented migrants had been arrested since January, while approximately 25,000 had been repatriated, as the country intensifies immigration enforcement amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment.
Source: Punch
Tags: #Xenophobia, #South #Africa, Repatriation
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