Nigeria has stepped in to bring back several citizens from South Africa after anti‑migrant sentiment surged. A 720‑seat flight carrying 268 Nigerians landed in Lagos after taking off from Johannesburg, carrying some 1,000 nationals who had registered for repatriation.
The move follows a wave of anti‑migrant sentiment linked to South Africa’s high unemployment, which has sparked protests and xenophobic attacks across major cities. Nigerian Consul General Ninikanwa Okey‑Uche said migrants make up less than 10% of South Africa’s population and should not be blamed for systemic problems.
The flight’s arrival came after Georgia, Zimbabwe and Malawi had already evacuated their nationals weeks earlier. South Africa’s new measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa include jailing employers who hire undocumented workers and creating dedicated courts to speed deportations.
Citizens like Justin, who has lived in South Africa since 1998, shared that they feared for their safety after being targeted in taxis and on the streets, citing threats that found people “killing brothers.”
Security concerns loom as South Africa heads into local elections in November, where migration issues are expected to become a major campaign topic. The government has warned against taking the law into one’s own hands as it looks to curtail xenophobic violence while maintaining public services.
