The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians living in South Africa of their safety despite renewed xenophobic tensions and growing anti-immigrant protests, pledging continued diplomatic engagement with the South African government to safeguard the interests of its citizens.
The assurance came as hundreds of Nigerians reportedly gathered at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria following escalating tensions, while another batch of 269 Nigerians voluntarily returned home on Tuesday aboard an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg, arriving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 10:48 a.m. The flight marked the second government-coordinated evacuation exercise within weeks.
The development follows reports that a Nigerian businessman popularly known as Big Joe was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga Province, on Sunday. South African police have yet to establish the motive behind the killing.
Thousands of South Africans staged demonstrations in several major cities on Tuesday, demanding the deportation of undocumented migrants. Security agencies, supported by private security personnel, were deployed across affected areas amid fears that the protests could turn violent after anti-migrant groups issued a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
As tensions increased, many foreign nationals reportedly fled their communities over fears of attacks and intimidation. South African authorities disclosed that about 25,000 undocumented migrants, mostly from other African countries, had already been repatriated.
Although police described the nationwide protests as largely peaceful, they confirmed isolated cases of looting, vandalism and assaults.
In Johannesburg, security was tightened across the city centre while several businesses remained shut. The military was also deployed to Hillbrow following reports that a teenager was shot and a vehicle was set ablaze.
Local media reported that protesters in Yeoville threw bricks at houses occupied by migrants, while demonstrators in Germiston allegedly forced suspected undocumented migrants from their homes before handing them over to immigration officials.
Police also confirmed the arrest of five people accused of looting a foreign-owned shop in Soweto. In KwaZulu-Natal Province, about 10 people were arrested over looting, while another woman was detained for assaulting a police officer and a man was arrested for allegedly intimidating others following an attack on a foreign national.
Leader of the anti-migrant group March and March, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, said weekly protests would continue over the next six months to pressure the government into deporting undocumented migrants.
Similarly, members of Operation Dudula vowed to continue urging police to arrest foreigners residing illegally in South Africa.
Ahead of the demonstrations, President Cyril Ramaphosa met with protest leaders in an effort to calm tensions. While acknowledging public concerns over illegal immigration, he urged demonstrators to remain peaceful and avoid violence or intimidation.
He noted that many foreign nationals reside legally in South Africa, where they work, study, invest, raise families and contribute to the country's economy.
Ramaphosa stressed that while citizens have the right to protest, such rights do not extend to acts of violence, intimidation or vandalism.
South African authorities disclosed that nearly 50,000 undocumented migrants had been arrested since January, while approximately 25,000 had already been repatriated.
The renewed tensions come months after the deaths of two Nigerians. Amaramiro Emmanuel reportedly died after being assaulted by members of the South African National Defence Force in Port Elizabeth on April 20, while Ekpenyong Andrew was arrested in Pretoria on April 26 and was later found dead in a mortuary under circumstances still under investigation.
The Nigerian Government has demanded comprehensive investigations into both incidents, while Nigerian community organisations continue to express concern over attacks targeting Nigerians amid growing anti-foreigner sentiments.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Assures Nigerians
In a statement issued in Abuja by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Federal Government said it had intensified efforts to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home, particularly following the June 30 deadline announced by anti-immigrant groups in South Africa.
The ministry reaffirmed that Nigerians remaining in South Africa were not abandoned and assured that diplomatic engagements with South African authorities would continue to guarantee their safety.
Before Tuesday's evacuation, another 66 Nigerians had returned to Lagos on June 24 aboard a ValueJet flight facilitated by Nigerian businessman Kunle Soname.
According to the ministry, the latest batch of returnees was accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and received at the Lagos airport by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by the Director of African Affairs, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.
Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Tinubu's message of reassurance to the returnees, reaffirming the administration's commitment to protecting Nigerians living abroad.
The ministry stated that the evacuation exercise remains ongoing and that additional flights would arrive in the coming days to evacuate all Nigerians who had completed screening and voluntarily opted to return home.
Embassy Explains Situation in Pretoria
Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, explained that many Nigerians who gathered outside the embassy in Pretoria acted based on announcements circulated by community members rather than official directives from the mission.
He clarified that the embassy had established an organised evacuation process and only invited screened individuals when their assigned flights were ready.
Ajayi said some of those sheltering in churches and outside the embassy were not on the approved evacuation list, adding that the mission was following due process to ensure orderly evacuation.
He disclosed that hundreds of Nigerians had already been screened, while the Nigerian High Commission and the Nigerian Union South Africa continued providing shelter, food and humanitarian support to affected citizens awaiting evacuation.
On the reported killing of the Nigerian businessman known as Big Joe, Ajayi said the mission had begun working with South African police to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He also confirmed that the mission continued pursuing justice in previous cases involving Nigerians allegedly killed in South Africa, including the cases reported earlier this year.
Ajayi added that about 700 Nigerians who voluntarily indicated interest in returning home were still awaiting evacuation.
He said nearly 150 distressed Nigerians were currently being accommodated and supported by the Nigerian Mission while awaiting their scheduled flights.
Nigerian Union Calls for Calm
President General of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Barrister Smart Nwobi, said the union had advised Nigerians to remain indoors and temporarily shut their businesses while monitoring developments.
He said President Cyril Ramaphosa had assured that adequate security personnel had been deployed to prevent attacks during the protests.
According to Nwobi, the Nigerian Union, Nigerian High Commission and other organisations continued providing food, blankets and humanitarian assistance to displaced Nigerians.
He disclosed that about 79 men were temporarily accommodated in a church after a pastor offered the facility as a shelter, while more than 80 women and children remained at the Nigerian High Commission.
Nwobi revealed that over 600 Nigerians had already been screened and cleared for evacuation, with additional government flights expected in the coming days.
He praised the Federal Government for fulfilling its commitment to protect Nigerians abroad and commended Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma for providing ₦1 million each to returnees from the state to assist with their reintegration.
He also urged the Federal Government to review Nigeria's bilateral relations with South Africa in view of recurring xenophobic attacks.
Protest Ends Peacefully
President of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora, South Africa, Dr. Olusola Agbeniyi, said Tuesday's anti-migrant protest ended peacefully without any reported attacks on Nigerians or other foreign nationals.
He explained that the demonstrations were directed at illegal immigration and did not degenerate into violence.
NICASA Seeks Stronger Diplomatic Engagement
Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Western Cape Province, Leo Azebeokhai, urged the Federal Government to strengthen diplomatic engagement with South Africa and accelerate the evacuation of stranded Nigerians.
He said many Nigerians become undocumented because of prolonged delays in renewing Nigerian passports and South African permits rather than deliberate violations of immigration laws.
According to him, the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg remains the only passport renewal centre, forcing many Nigerians to travel long distances at huge costs.
Azebeokhai appealed for the deployment of mobile passport enrolment centres across South Africa and urged both governments to address delays affecting residence permits, work permits and business permits.
He further expressed concern that delayed evacuation arrangements had left hundreds of Nigerians stranded after many had already vacated their homes based on assurances of repatriation.
Retired Ambassadors Recommend Stronger Action
Former Nigerian ambassadors called on the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic engagement with South African authorities, accelerate evacuation efforts and pursue long-term solutions to recurring xenophobic attacks.
Retired Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode commended the ongoing evacuation but urged authorities to address reported delays and continue engaging South African authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerians.
Former Ambassador Mohammed Mabdul recommended regular diplomatic protests, the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate evacuation and reintegration of returnees, and raising the matter before the African Union for collective action.
He also called for nationwide public awareness campaigns discouraging unnecessary travel to South Africa and suggested economic measures against South African business interests in Nigeria.
Additionally, he urged Nigerian diplomatic missions in South Africa to work with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the orderly return of undocumented Nigerians.
Students Threaten Nationwide Protest
The National Association of University Students (NAUS) condemned the reported xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and warned that it would organise nationwide protests if decisive action is not taken within one week.
Speaking at a press conference, NAUS President Meshach Nwankwo condemned what he described as increasing attacks, intimidation and hate speech targeting Nigerians and other African nationals.
The association called on South African authorities to investigate all reported attacks, prosecute offenders and provide adequate protection for foreign nationals.
NAUS also urged the South African High Commission in Nigeria to publicly reassure Nigerians of their safety.
The association warned that if no meaningful action is taken within one week, it would mobilise peaceful nationwide demonstrations, pursue lawful actions against South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria and relocate its national headquarters to the South African High Commission in Abuja as part of a sustained protest.
The warning comes amid renewed anti-migrant demonstrations across parts of South Africa, which have heightened fears among foreign nationals and prompted the continued evacuation of Nigerians who voluntarily wish to return home.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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