Another group of Nigerians has returned home from South Africa as attacks on black foreigners continue. The situation has made Nigeria-South Africa relations tense.
A total of 105 Nigerians were brought back last Thursday. This group included 83 adults and 23 students. State officials welcomed them home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared a statement on X on Saturday. They said the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) helped fund the return of 100 out of the 105 Nigerians.
The church donated over $265,854 to buy one-way tickets to bring back 500 Nigerians in distress from South Africa. The ministry said, "The return of the remaining five was funded by the generous donation of a private Nigerian citizen."
The returnees, made up of 82 adults and 23 children, landed in Lagos on South African Airways (SAA) Flight SA060 on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at about 8:30 PM.
Nigeria's diplomatic mission is still in talks with RCCG leaders in South Africa and other charity groups. They are working on bringing back other Nigerians who need help. Some are currently going through clearance with the Consulate in Johannesburg and the relevant South African authorities. They will be evacuated as soon as everything is sorted out.
Since the latest wave of xenophobic violence began in April, around 1,640 Nigerians have been brought back home. Last month, 33 Nigerians were repatriated.
Sadly, at least five Nigerians have lost their lives since the violence started. PREMIUM TIMES reported the most recent death in July. The victim, Chika Simon, died during an encounter with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The Nigerian consulate stated that he died under unclear circumstances. Earlier reports also mentioned deaths of other Nigerians. These include Amaramiro Emmanuel, Ekpenyong Andrew, Emeka Iroegbu, and Musa Joe.
Emmanuel and Andrew were reportedly killed in April by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Port Elizabeth. Andrew's body was found days after his arrest on 19 April in the Booysens area of Pretoria. He had been arrested after an alleged fight with the Tshwane Metro Police.
His body was later found at the Pretoria Central Mortuary. Emmanuel died the next day from injuries he got during an attack by the SANDF.
The Nigerian government responded by calling in the South African High Commissioner to demand a full investigation into the deaths of these two Nigerians. Sadly, two more Nigerians were killed shortly after.
Iroegbu and Joe were killed on 28 June under different circumstances. Joe was killed by “suspected criminals” in Witbank city, Mpumalanga province. Iroegbu was tortured to death by the Tshwane Metro Police in Pretoria suburbs.
Months later, investigations into these cases are still ongoing, and no one has been arrested.
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