First batch of Nigerians return from South Africa
The first batch of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following bloody xenophobic attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday, with some recounting tales of horror.
A good 262 of them ferried in Air Peace jet fully paid by the federal government arrived in the country with mixed feelings. While some said they were happy to be back whole and healthy, others could only recount tales of woes.
“I will never return to South Africa. They killed my husband. They are very wicked people and their women are useless,” recounts Mrs Emilia Godwin.
“They vowed to shoot remaining Africans there. They made it hard to renew papers; Zulu men say we take their wives,” two Nigerian men told reporters.
Air Peace wrote on its verified X handle: “Today was more than just a flight. Air Peace, in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, safely evacuated 262 Nigerians from South Africa amid recent xenophobic attacks.
“As our Boeing 777 touched down Lagos, it carried not just passengers, but hope, relief and the reassurance that Nigerians are never alone in times of crisis.”
Black South Africans had in recent months visited hell on black migrants from other African nations demanding that people with no residency papers leave by June 30.
Black migrants have been intimidated and beaten by mobs marching from door to door to enforce the ‘leave South Africa’ threat while South African government looked away.
Countries mostly affected are Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique and Malawi and all have been repatriating their nationals to beat the deadline.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, welcomed the first batch with the promise that a second batch will arrive on June 15.
About 1,000 Nigerians have said they want to leave South Africa, and documentation and profiling has been ongoing.
