Free repatriation flights offered as attacks, looting, and fear spread across major cities
Free repatriation flights offered as attacks, looting, and fear spread across major cities
Amid a fresh wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa, Nigerians are increasingly considering returning home as attacks targeting foreign nationals intensify.
The Nigerian Consulate, in collaboration with the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has begun arranging free repatriation flights for citizens willing to leave permanently. Many Nigerians have already indicated interest, citing growing insecurity and economic losses.
The development follows reports of coordinated attacks in cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, where foreign-owned businesses have been looted, vandalised, or forced to shut down.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has also issued safety advisories, urging Nigerians in the country to close their shops temporarily and avoid confrontation as tensions escalate.
NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa warned that the situation is deteriorating despite previous diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and South Africa. She noted that many Nigerians now live in fear, with daily activities disrupted and some families avoiding schools and businesses due to safety concerns.
Community leaders report that the violence is often driven by anti-immigrant groups blaming foreign nationals for unemployment and economic hardship, although analysts say such claims are not supported by clear evidence.
In some cases, casualties have been reported, alongside widespread property destruction and harassment, further deepening anxiety within the Nigerian diaspora.
The Nigerian government has called on South African authorities to take decisive action, including improved security, prosecution of offenders, and stronger diplomatic coordination to curb the attacks.
As violence continues to spread, the option of voluntary evacuation highlights the severity of the crisis, with urgent calls for intervention to protect lives and restore stability.