Our ordeal in South Africa – Nigerian returnees

Some of the first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa have narrated their ordeal in the recent wave of xenophobic attacks that forced them out of the “Rainbow Nation” on Thursday.

Weekend Trust reports that it was an emotional homecoming for the 268 returnees who touched down at 10:30am at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight arranged as part of the federal government’s repatriation efforts.

The return flight was initially scheduled for Monday but was later moved to Wednesday over documentation delays.

‘Our story’

Speaking at the airport, some of the returnees shared disturbing accounts of xenophobic attacks, extortion and intimidation, urging fellow Nigerians still residing in the country to return home before the conditions worsen.

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They described years of hardship and uncertainty, expressing gratitude to the Nigerian government and others who facilitated their return.

One of the returnees, Chukwuemeka Chris Okeke, said the challenges faced by many African migrants in South Africa had become unbearable.

“No place like home. We were passing through a lot in South Africa,” he said.

Okeke thanked the Nigerian authorities for helping them return safely.

He said, “I really appreciate our president and others who supported in bringing us back home. I thank our government so much. May God bless Nigerians.”

Another returnee, Emmanuel Nwachukwu, alleged that hostility toward foreigners, particularly Nigerians, had intensified in some parts of South Africa, forcing many to reconsider their future in the country. According to him, fears among migrants grew following threats allegedly made against foreigners who refuse to leave.

“They said they would start shooting at the remaining people who do not want to go home,” he claimed.

Nwachukwu, who said he spent 10 years in South Africa, alleged that Nigerians were frequently targeted by law enforcement officials and other security agencies.

“Once they know you are a Nigerian, the police and other security agencies will come to extort you. Day in and day out, they are doing that,” he alleged.

He further claimed that undocumented migrants were routinely subjected to harassment and intimidation.

While acknowledging that many Nigerians in South Africa lack valid immigration documents, Nwachukwu argued that bureaucratic obstacles often made it difficult for foreigners to regularise their stay.

“They will say we are staying illegally, but they are not giving any documents. How can you not be documenting people and start tagging them as illegal immigrants?” He asked.

According to him, the absence of proper documentation leaves many migrants vulnerable to exploitation.

“They know they are not giving papers, and these guys don’t have papers, so they go after them, frustrate them and take money from them every day. As long as you are a Nigerian, you are a target,” he claimed.

Nwachukwu also accused immigration authorities of creating obstacles for foreigners seeking to leave the country voluntarily.

“When you want to go home and get to their international airport, they will still not want you to go home. They will tell you that your document is not complete and give you one reason or another to send you back to prison,” he alleged.

He further claimed that many migrants became trapped in a cycle of detention and financial hardship.

“They are recycling people as slaves in that country,” he alleged.

The returnee said he had attempted to renew his immigration documents without success, leaving him fearful of encounters with law enforcement officers.

“I have papers, but they have expired. I went for renewal but they could not renew them. That’s why when you see police you are running; when you see immigration, you are running. Our lives were not safe there,” he said.

Nwachukwu advised Nigerians still living in South Africa not to allow pride or fear of embarrassment to stop them from returning home, noting that many migrants remain stranded despite years abroad.

“There are many Nigerians who don’t want to come back because of shame. They don’t have money and they have been there for years. I told my friends to forget the shame and let’s go home. No place like home,” he said.

Despite the difficulties they experienced overseas, the returnees expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future and urged citizens to contribute to national development.

Okeke said returning home had renewed his hope.

“I am so happy to be here. I appeal to Nigerians, let’s join hands together to make Nigeria great,” he said.

Over 1,000 Nigerians are said to have expressed interest in returning home following the violence.

The back story

Our correspondents report that their return signaled the first phase of one of the coordinated repatriation exercises in recent years following renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

In April, the fresh wave of violence erupted, with videos circulating online showing groups of South Africans assaulting black foreign nationals and ordering them out of their country.

Anti-foreigner violence convulsed South Africa for weeks as gangs welding sticks, whips and shields marched through parts of the “Rainbow Nation” demanding that people with no residency papers leave by June 30.

Foreign nationals have reported being intimidated and beaten by mobs going from door to door. Families have been forced from their homes, and many have left in the face of the threats.

The unrest prompted Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to advise their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa, while several governments initiated evacuation programmes for nationals wishing to return home.

The attacks revived memories of the deadly xenophobic attacks of 2008, 2015 and 2019, during which dozens of migrants were killed and foreign-owned businesses looted or destroyed.

The Nigerian government announced plans to evacuate more than 1,000 citizens after two Nigerians identified as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew were allegedly killed in the country.

Registration for voluntary evacuation was coordinated through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in collaboration with South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.

The evacuation, initially delayed by logistical challenges, eventually received presidential approval for five Air Peace flights after the number of registered Nigerians exceeded 1,000.

Upon the arrival of the first batch, the acting high commissioner in Pretoria, Ambassador Temitope Ajayi, hinted that “the next batch will be coming in on Monday, June 15.

“The third batch will be on June 18. The fourth batch will be returning on June 22, while the fifth and last batch will be coming in on June 24,” he promised.

‘Tinubu ordered repatriation despite pressure’

Ajayi applauded President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the repatriation exercise, saying he was under pressure to halt the process.

He said: “Mr President was put under tremendous pressure by world leaders, even by the president of South Africa himself. He was asked to hold action on this. The moment Nigeria made a pronouncement that we were going to repatriate our people, there was a bit of jitteriness.

“So they put Mr President under tremendous pressure that he should not do this. But he was always very consistent because he knew where he was going. And he said, ‘Any attack on my people in South Africa is an attack on me, and you must bring my people back.’”

Farewell to ‘horrible Nigerians’

Masterminds of the anti-foreigners movement in South Africa are unapologetic about the drive to push Nigerians and other Africans out of the country.

“Nigerians are horrible,” Thabile Sibeko, the president of the Inizwe Nathi Party said as she bade ‘farewell’ to Nigerians leaving South Africa.

Sibeko’s comment, made while granting an interview before the first batch of Nigerians left the country, has gone viral.

Sibeko also said she recognised the positive contributions of many, while also raising concerns over crimes linked to a few individuals.

Speaking in a viral television interview, she said: “I am here to bid farewell to Nigerians, to make sure that they are leaving our country and to say to them, bye-bye Nigeria. Thank you for all you contributed to our country. We did not appreciate the wrongs you have done, and we hope that you have learned a lesson. We want to encourage them that when they go to other countries, they must take care of those countries.

“Today, we have got zombies in our streets as our children because of them, and that has cut deep into our hearts. That has made us resent them with all we have. We hope they have a safe journey. Next time they come, they should know that South Africa loves its people and its country.”

According to her, South Africans resent Nigerians because of “their behaviours and the evil they have done in our country, “They have taken our properties; they have killed our children with drugs. That is the reason we are so hard on Nigerians.”

Returnees get cash support

The chairman/chief executive officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has listed the support packages being extended to the first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa.

Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke on Channels Television, said the returnees had received support from both government agencies and the private sector upon arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

“I will tell you something about those 250 that came in. None of them committed any crime. The only crime they committed is the colour of their skin. They are migrants in South Africa,” she said.

According to her, telecoms giant MTN provided each returnee with N100,000, alongside N50,000 airtime and starter packs to help them reconnect and settle upon arrival.

She also revealed that the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, donated N1 million each to indigenes of the state among the returnees.

In addition, the National Emergency Management Agency provided transportation support, while a real estate firm also offered financial assistance to the returnees.

According to her, the National Identity Management Commission was also on hand to assist returnees with identity documentation.

Dabiri-Erewa called on other state governors to emulate Uzodimma by reaching out to their indigenes among the returnees, while noting that the federal government would continue engagement with returnees to identify their skills and determine how best to support them.

Weekend Trust reports that the second batch of Nigerians is expected to depart South Africa on Monday, June 15.

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