Another 111 Nigerians have returned home from South Africa following xenophobic attacks in the country, bringing the total number of Nigerian nationals evacuated since June 2026 to 2,037.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the latest return in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi. According to the ministry, the group arrived in Lagos on Thursday, October 8, 2026, aboard South African Airways flight SA060.
The returnees comprised 44 men, 23 women and 44 children. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies received them upon arrival.
The ministry said the evacuation was funded through a $265,854 donation from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). The contribution was intended to support the return of 500 Nigerians considered distressed in South Africa.
The latest arrival brings the number of consular evacuation operations conducted from South Africa to 15 since the exercise began on June 10, 2026. The cumulative number of Nigerians evacuated from the country has now reached 2,037, according to the ministry.
The return comes amid ongoing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa following reports of xenophobic attacks. The latest evacuation reflects continued efforts to assist Nigerians seeking to leave the country and return home.
