Xenophobia: 111 more Nigerians return from S’Africa

The Federal Government has evacuated an additional 111 Nigerian nationals from South Africa due to escalating xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks. The returnees, consisting of 44 men, 23 women, and 44 children, disembarked in Lagos on Thursday, October 8, 2026, aboard South African Airways Flight SA060. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this in a statement, citing support from a $265,854 donation from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

This donation funded the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa. The Ministry received the returnees from various Federal agencies, including the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, and the National Emergency Management Agency. Since the evacuation exercise began on June 10, 2026, a total of 15 consular evacuations have taken place from South Africa, with the cumulative count of Nigerians evacuated reaching 2,037.

Of these, 1,388 were fully covered by the Federal Government, leaving 182 more to be repatriated under the RCCG's commitment to fund 500 one-way tickets. The Federal Government has commended the RCCG for its financial support and reaffirmed its dedication to tackling xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa while ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerians abroad.