A total of 67 Nigerian returnees from South Africa have arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in the country.
The returnees arrived aboard South African Airways at about 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday and were received by officials from various Federal Government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
The South-West Coordinator of NEMA, Alex Oturu, said the repatriation was facilitated by well-meaning Nigerians who provided the returnees with flight tickets and other forms of assistance.
The latest arrival brings to 150 the number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa in the past week, following the return of 83 Nigerians from the country last Thursday.
South Africa has long been a major destination for migrants from across Africa. However, the country has experienced recurring waves of anti-migrant violence for nearly two decades, with tensions escalating this year after vigilante groups ordered undocumented foreigners to leave by June 30.
According to an AFP tally based on figures provided by African countries that have repatriated their nationals, more than 176,000 people have left South Africa in recent weeks.
South African police have reported that at least four migrants have been killed in the violence, although some foreign governments have put the death toll higher.
Ghana, which has strongly condemned the fatal attacks, has called for the African Union (AU) to debate the issue of anti-migrant violence at its next summit early next year.
Nigeria, which has also had diplomatic tensions with South Africa over repeated attacks on its citizens, has similarly pushed for the issue to be placed on the AU agenda.
