Nigeria’s foreign ministry announced Thursday that the country has successfully completed a voluntary evacuation effort, bringing home a total of 1,490 citizens who fled South Africa amid a string of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that a fifth evacuation flight touched down in Lagos on July 15, transporting 305 returnees along with two government officials who traveled from Johannesburg.
According to the government, the decision to carry out the evacuations came after Nigerian officials held discussions with South African authorities regarding growing security concerns tied to the xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals living in the country, including Nigerians.
Nigeria has spoken out firmly against the attacks on its citizens, pointing to the deaths of at least two Nigerian nationals who were allegedly assaulted by security officials in South Africa.
Spokesperson Kimiebi emphasized that while Nigeria values its strong relationship with South Africa, the government’s stance is unwavering — xenophobia, racial intolerance, and violence directed at Nigerian citizens will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
