Nigerians Repatriated from South Africa Amid Rising Xenophobic Violence
On Thursday morning, a chartered Air Peace flight landed at Lagos’s Murtala Mohammed International Airport carrying 262 Nigerians who had been living in South Africa. The group, composed mainly of women and children, arrived as South Africa grapples with a surge of anti‑immigrant protests and attacks that have intensified since early June 2024.
The Immediate Trigger
South African authorities have reported that gangs armed with sticks, whips and makeshift shields have marched through major cities—including Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban—demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country by 30 June. Reports from BBC News and Reuters describe mobs going door‑to‑door, intimidating residents, beating individuals, and forcing families out of their homes.
According to the South African Police Service, more than 150 incidents of xenophobic violence were recorded in the first two weeks of June, resulting in dozens of injuries and several arrests. The unrest has been linked to high unemployment—officially above 30 percent—and growing frustration among locals who perceive migrant workers as competitors for scarce jobs.
The Repatriation Flight
The Air Peace aircraft, chartered by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, departed from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday evening. Upon arrival in Lagos, many returnees were seen wearing sweaters and thick coats—remnants of South Africa’s southern‑hemisphere winter—before stepping into the scorching Nigerian sun.
Officials said the passengers had been processed for repatriation after being identified as lacking valid documentation. The South African Department of Home Affairs confirmed that 586 Nigerian nationals had been screened, with the majority cited for expired passports or visas. Those deemed “undesirable persons” will be barred from re‑entering South Africa for five years.
Voices from the Returnees
- Emilia Godwin, 45 – a trader who has lived in South Africa for 11 years, said, “They like to eat our food, but they don’t like us.” She left behind all her belongings, returning with only a 23‑kilogram bag.
- Justin Chukwu, 28 – who had resided legally in South Africa for nearly three decades, described a shooting that killed 12 people in an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, earlier in the week. He added, “These guys … are unstoppable. You can’t stop them, the police can’t go to them.” Chukwu departed without his children, who were born to a South African mother.
- Millie, 28 – a mother of three who arrived in South Africa at age six, recounted prejudice in schools and expressed mixed feelings about returning: “I feel free but at the same time I don’t know what to expect.”
Government Responses
The Nigerian government has pledged a cash assistance of $730 per returnee to help with immediate resettlement needs. Foreign Ministry spokesman Kibiebi Ebienfa noted that many Nigerians operate legitimate businesses in South Africa and that the current crisis has forced some to abandon those ventures.
South African officials, while condemning the violence, maintain that the majority of those being repatriated are in the country illegally. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office issued a statement urging calm and promising increased police patrols in affected areas.
Broader Context of Xenophobia in South Africa
Xenophobic attacks are not new to South Africa. Since 2008, waves of violence have targeted foreign nationals, most notably the 2008 riots that left over 60 dead and displaced tens of thousands. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly criticized the government’s response, calling for stronger protection measures and public education campaigns.
The latest flare‑up coincides with the run‑up to local government elections scheduled for November 2024. Political analysts suggest that some parties may be exploiting anti‑immigrant sentiment to mobilize voters, a pattern observed in previous electoral cycles.
Looking Ahead
Nigerian authorities indicate that around 1,000 nationals have expressed a desire to leave South Africa, with a second repatriation flight planned for 15 June 2024. The situation remains fluid; continued monitoring by regional bodies such as the African Union and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be essential to assess whether diplomatic interventions can de‑escalate tensions.
For now, the returnees face the challenge of rebuilding lives in Nigeria, carrying with them both the trauma of recent violence and the hope of a safer future.
