Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Nigerian who returned from South Africa on Thursday, 9 July 2026, has issued an emotional appeal to the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic pressure on Pretoria, declaring that Nigerians in the country are being killed with alarming frequency and that those remaining are living in constant fear. The returnee, one of 282 evacuees aboard the fourth evacuation flight operated by Air Peace, spoke shortly after arriving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where he recounted the harrowing experiences that forced him to abandon his life in South Africa.
The man, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, told journalists that he left South Africa because of what he described as persistent and escalating attacks targeting Nigerians. "Our brothers are dying every day," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. He claimed that many Nigerians had been killed in similar incidents and expressed fears that those still living in South Africa remain unsafe. He called on the Nigerian government to engage South African authorities over the attacks, insisting that the killings had reached an intolerable level and demanded immediate diplomatic intervention to protect the lives of Nigerians still in the country. "Nigeria must speak louder," he urged.
The returnee's plea came as 282 Nigerians, including 272 adults and 12 infants, arrived in Lagos on Thursday evening aboard an Air Peace flight. The aircraft departed Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 2:50 p.m. South African time, landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at approximately 7:30 p.m.. The evacuation followed weeks of escalating xenophobic violence, anti-immigrant protests, and heightened security concerns that have gripped parts of South Africa. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed the departure earlier on Thursday, stating that the Federal Government remained committed to providing a pathway to safety for citizens who consider themselves and their families at risk.
The arrival of the fourth batch brings the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to over 1,100, as the Federal Government continues its voluntary repatriation exercise. The returnees were received by officials from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and delegations from Edo and Imo states. To aid their reintegration, each returnee received a SIM card preloaded with N50,000 airtime and a Moniepoint account with N100,000 as immediate financial support. The Imo State Government pledged N1 million to each indigene of the state among the returnees.
The evacuation comes amid renewed diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa following the deaths of two Nigerian citizens on 28 June 2026. According to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emeka Charles Iroegbu was allegedly killed by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in Sunnyside, Pretoria, during what the government described as "gruesome interrogation techniques". On the same day, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as Big Joe, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga. The killings occurred amid rising xenophobic tensions and a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment that had escalated since April 2026, including a widely reported ultimatum issued by anti-migrant groups ordering foreign nationals to leave South Africa by 30 June 2026.
In a related development, the House of Representatives on Thursday, 9 July 2026, called on the Federal Government to impose strong diplomatic measures against South Africa over the renewed xenophobic attacks, extrajudicial killings, and the alleged systematic persecution of Nigerians and other African nationals. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, who recalled Nigeria's leading role in the struggle against apartheid and declared that the treatment meted out to Nigerians in South Africa was both unfortunate and unacceptable.
Gagdi expressed concern that "xenophobic violence has become recurrent, systematic and increasingly deadly". He noted that innocent Africans continue to lose their lives while criminal perpetrators often escape justice, thereby encouraging impunity. He also criticised comments allegedly made by a South African junior minister, describing them as inflammatory and capable of aggravating an already volatile security situation.
Co-sponsor of the motion, Billy Osawaru, proposed that Nigeria suspend political, diplomatic, and parliamentary engagements with South Africa, including trade and economic diplomacy, until concrete measures were taken to halt the attacks. However, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, urged caution, stating that such a far-reaching decision should not be taken without first establishing the facts. When the proposal was put to a voice vote, the majority of lawmakers rejected it.
The diplomatic row has been further inflamed by South Africa's rejection of Nigeria's demand for compensation for affected citizens. South African authorities formally rejected the request, instead demanding that Abuja produce evidence of criminal operations allegedly run by Nigerians within South Africa. The Nigerian government has condemned the attacks and warned that "all options remain on the table" if the violence persists.
As the Federal Government continues its evacuation exercise, with a fifth flight expected to depart South Africa on 10 July 2026, the returnee's plea for justice echoes the sentiments of many Nigerians who have been forced to flee their homes and livelihoods. "Our brothers are dying every day," he said. For the thousands still in South Africa, the question remains whether diplomatic pressure will translate into meaningful protection or whether more lives will be lost before justice is served.
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