Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has issued a final, urgent call for Nigerian nationals in South Africa to register for evacuation, warning that the security situation shows no signs of improvement and that those who remain must carefully weigh the risks to their lives. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced on Monday, 6 July 2026, that evacuation flights would continue beyond the initial June 30 deadline, with another charter flight departing for Johannesburg on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, and a final flight expected to arrive in South Africa on 10 July 2026. The appeal comes as the death toll of Nigerian citizens killed in the ongoing xenophobic violence rises to four, with the brutal killings of Musa Yunana Joe and Emeka Charles Iroegbu on 28 June 2026 sending shockwaves through diplomatic circles and heightening fears for the safety of thousands of Nigerians still in the country.
According to a statement posted on her verified social media handles, Ojukwu said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that evacuation operations continue until every Nigerian who voluntarily registered is brought home safely, despite the expiration of the June 30 ultimatum issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa. "President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, extended the Evacuations beyond the June 30 deadline, with the fourth evacuation flight having arrived in Nigeria on 3rd July 2026," the minister stated. The fourth flight, operated by Air Peace, conveyed 268 returnees from Johannesburg to Lagos, bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated since the crisis began to more than 850 across four separate operations.
The latest evacuations follow three earlier flights that brought home nearly 600 Nigerians before the June 30 deadline. The first batch of 258 returnees arrived on 11 June 2026, while a second flight carrying 66 Nigerians arrived on 24 June 2026, facilitated by a good-spirited Nigerian who volunteered to pay the flight tickets. A third batch of 269 returnees arrived on 30 June 2026. The Federal Government has stressed that all special evacuation flights are fully paid for by the government and at no cost to the returnees, dismissing allegations that mission staff were requesting money for enlistment as "totally false" and "fake news".
The urgency of the evacuation has been underscored by the deaths of two Nigerian citizens on 28 June 2026. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emeka Charles Iroegbu was allegedly tortured to death by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in Sunnyside, Pretoria, during what the ministry described as "gruesome interrogation techniques". The same officers had reportedly been responsible for the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on 20 April 2026, yet no arrests have been made. On the same day, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as Big Joe, was shot dead by unidentified criminals outside his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga. The killings have raised the total number of Nigerians confirmed murdered in South Africa since the current wave of xenophobic attacks began in April to four.
The Nigerian government has condemned the killings and demanded that South African authorities urgently investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice. In a strong diplomatic rebuke, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs placed the South African government "on notice", warning that "all options remain on the table" if the "uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour" against foreigners is not addressed. The ministry also criticised remarks by South African Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who at a press briefing on Friday rejected Nigeria's compensation demand for properties abandoned by evacuated citizens and challenged Nigeria to disclose the locations of drug dens allegedly operated by its nationals. Abuja described the comments as "derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored" and constituting hate speech that incites negative and criminal actions against Nigerians.
The wave of anti-migrant sentiment that has swept across South Africa has led to roughly 25,000 citizens from other African countries being repatriated by their nations, including some 700 Nigerians. Protesters in South Africa have urged the government to do more to curb illegal migration, arguing that foreigners are taking jobs and unfairly benefiting from public services. South Africa has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world—at more than 30 per cent—and anti-migrant sentiment has been rising in recent months. The continent's most developed economy remains a magnet for people from poorer countries seeking work, often in low-paid jobs. However, the violence has drawn widespread condemnation, with Amnesty International South Africa warning that anti-migrant rhetoric fuels xenophobia and risks further violence.
Ojukwu's message to Nigerians still in South Africa was stark and unequivocal. "Our citizens are strongly advised to take advantage of this extension and utilize the full capacity of the Aircrafts," she said. "For many still sitting on the fence, they should do well to note that properties and investments lost can be replaced, but not lives lost." The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad, stating that all necessary measures would be put in place to protect them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been coordinating the evacuation exercise with the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant government agencies to ensure that returning citizens receive the necessary support, documentation, and onward transportation to their respective destinations.
As the final evacuation flights prepare to depart, the clock is ticking for Nigerians who have remained in South Africa despite the escalating violence. The government has made it clear that while diplomatic engagement with Pretoria will continue, the immediate priority is the safe return of its citizens. For those who choose to stay, the warning is clear: the risks are grave, and the government cannot guarantee their safety in a country where anti-migrant violence has become increasingly entrenched. The message from Abuja is simple: properties can be rebuilt, but lives lost can never be replaced.
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