Nigeria Evacuates 111 Citizens From South Africa Amid Xenophobia

The Government of Nigeria evacuated 111 distressed citizens from South Africa on October 8, 2026, following a surge in xenophobic and Afrophobic violence. The group, which included 44 men, 23 women, and 44 children, arrived in Lagos via South African Airways Flight SA060.

This operation represents the 15th consular evacuation since the process began on June 10, 2026, bringing the total number of repatriated Nigerians to 2,037. While the government funded 1,388 of these returns, the most recent batch was funded by a $265,854 donation from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which has pledged to sponsor 500 one-way tickets in total.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria reported that anti-migrant violence in South Africa recently escalated to include the burning of vehicles and the looting of foreign-owned shops in Johannesburg and Durban. The ministry stated it remains committed to engaging South African authorities to address these attacks and promote the safety and dignity of Nigerians residing in the country.