Xenophobic attacks: 1,516 Nigerians flee from South Africa

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that a total of 1,516 Nigerians fleeing from xenophobia attacks in South Africa were evacuated back home in seven batches during the recently concluded voluntary repatriation exercise undertaken by the Federal Government.

NEMA said this in a statement by Manzo Ezekiel of its press unit on Friday.

According to the statement, the 1,516 Nigerians voluntarily returned home from the South Africa between 11th June and 15th July 2026 through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, aboard Air Peace and South African Airways flights.

NEMA, which coordinated the exercice on behalf of the Federal Government listed other agencies involved in the voluntary repatriation exercise to include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Port Health Services and security agencies

The agency listed other relevant stakeholders that participated to ensure the safe, orderly and dignified return of the affected Nigerians to include MTN.

Giving further detail of the exercise, NEMA said: “The first batch of 258 returnees arrived on 11th June, 2026, aboard Air Peace. This was followed by the second batch of 66 returnees on 24th June via South African Airways. The third batch of 298 returnees arrived on 30th June, while the fourth batch of 266 returnees arrived on 3rd July aboard Air Peace.

“The fifth batch of 284 returnees arrived on 9th July, followed by the sixth batch of 39 returnees on 10th July via South African Airways. The seventh and final batch, comprising 305 returnees, arrived on 15th July 2026, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,516.

“Throughout the exercise, NEMA played a leading operational role in coordinating the reception of the returnees and arrangements for their onward transportation to various destinations, alongside partner agencies.

“The Agency commends all stakeholders whose collaboration contributed to the successful completion of the exercise.”

It added that NEMA’s Lagos Operations Office, led by the Head of Operations on behalf of the Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, diligently carried out the Agency’s responsibilities throughout the exercise, ensuring the successful reception, processing, and onward movement of the returnees.

“The Agency reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to continue providing coordinated humanitarian support during emergency evacuations, voluntary repatriation, and other humanitarian operations, in line with its statutory mandate of coordinating disaster management and humanitarian assistance in Nigeria”