Anoda batch of 105 Nigerians don return home from South Africa, as concerns dey grow ova di safety of foreign citizens ahead of di 30 September deadline wey anti-migrant groups give illegal migrants to comot for di kontri.
Di Nigerians arrive for Lagos wit South African Airways flight at about 20:30 local time on Thursday, di kontri foreign ministry tok. Nigeria Foreign Ministry tell di BBC on Friday say di govment don facilitate di return of 1,821 Nigerians since June, following wetin dem describe as renewed wave of xenophobic and afrophobic attacks. Dem neva provide details on weda na govment sponsor di Thursday evacuation or na private sponsor am.
Foreign Ministry tok-tok pesin Adeniyi say efforts dey underway to evacuate more Nigerians wey dey distressed sake of safety concerns for South Africa. Di latest arrivals dey come days bifor 30 September deadline wey anti-migrant groups give illegal migrants to go back to dia own kontris. Dem bin set similar deadline for 30 June.
Thousands of pipo bin take part for di anti-immigration protests around di kontri, wey result in some incidents of violence and looting. Police say about 900 pipo bin chop arrest, mostly for immigration-related offences and looting. South African authorities don stress say immigration enforcement na di responsibility of di govment and dem cut warning against vigilantism and attacks on foreign nationals.
Nigeria no be di only kontri wey dey help dia citizens to leave South Africa as Malawi say dem don bring home more dan 38,000 citizens between June and early July, while Zimbabwe don report di return of more dan 21,000 pipo. Uganda, Ghana and Mozambique don also repatriate dia citizens. South African authorities say more dan 53,000 foreign nationals dey processed for deportation or repatriation by 11 July, wit Malawians, Zimbabweans and Mozambicans making up most of di total.
Nigeria previously say dia govment don complete five phases of one voluntary evacuation programme by July, wey bring home 1,490 Nigerians on flights operated by Air Peace and South African Airways. Di latest returnees dey come as diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa continue to get k-leg sake of reports of violence against Nigerians and oda African migrants.
Oga Adeniyi say Nigeria remain deeply concerned about persistent xenophobic and afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and oda Africans for South Africa. E say Nigeria go continue diplomatic efforts wit South African authorities to decisively address di problem of xenophobia and afrophobia, and ensure di safety, security and dignity of Nigerians wey still dey di kontri. South African authorities say dem dey investigate reported killings and don ask pipo not to attack foreign nationals. Dem also stress say only authorised officials go carry out checks on migrants immigration status.
More Nigerians dey expected to return to Nigeria from South Africa dis week due to xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and oda foreign nationals. Sources wey sabi di development confirm dis to Vanguard on Wednesday night, saying a number of Nigerians dey expected to arrive for di kontri. Di development come amid renewed concerns over di safety of Nigerians wey dey live and do business for South Africa. Further details on di number of Nigerians wey dem expect to return go emerge as di exercise dey progress.
