The final batch of 315 Nigerians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa is set to return home on Wednesday, the Federal Government has confirmed, marking the conclusion of a weeks long evacuation effort.
The latest group brings the total number of Nigerians repatriated in recent weeks to well over a thousand, following earlier batches of 39 and 271 evacuated in successive emergency flights coordinated with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
The evacuation exercise was launched after a fresh wave of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals swept through several South African provinces, forcing many Nigerian traders and residents to abandon homes and businesses.
Officials say the Federal Government worked closely with Air Peace and South African authorities to coordinate the emergency flights, with returning citizens expected to receive resettlement support upon arrival in Nigeria.
The National Assembly has separately continued to press the Federal Government for stronger diplomatic guarantees for Nigerians who choose to remain in South Africa, as relations between Abuja and Pretoria remain strained over the handling of the attacks.
Community leaders among the Nigerian diaspora say the return of this final batch does not end concerns for those who still intend to remain, with many families continuing to report fear and disruption to businesses in affected areas.
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