Another Batch of 67 Nigerians Return From South Africa

Another 67 Nigerians have returned home from South Africa, amid growing concerns over xenophobic attacks and hostility towards foreign nationals in the country.

The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday aboard South African Airways.

They were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

The latest return comes less than a week after 83 Nigerians were repatriated from South Africa, bringing the number of Nigerians reported to have returned in the two batches to 150.

NEMA’s South-West Coordinator, Alex Oturu, said the latest repatriation was facilitated by good-spirited Nigerians who provided the returnees with flight tickets and other assistance.

The development comes amid a wider exodus of foreign nationals from South Africa following renewed cases of anti-migrant violence.

According to figures compiled by AFP from data provided by African countries involved in repatriation efforts, more than 176,000 people have left South Africa in recent weeks.