Second batch of Nigerians return from South Africa ahead of June 30 anti-immigration protest

New batch of Nigerians from South Africa don land for Lagos international airport afta days of delayed evacuation wey leave hundreds of pipo to dey wait as tension ova immigration continue to dey grow for South Africa.

Ova 260 Nigerians land for Lagos on 11 June afta dem register to return voluntarily due to di growing anti-immigrant sentiments and fear of violence for some parts of South Africa.

Di second flight suppose don evacuate dem on 15 June, but di operation delay, leave many Nigerians wey sign up for di programme to begin wonder wen dem go comot from South Africa.

On Wednesday, anoda group of more dan 60 Nigerians don comot from South Africa as part of govment program dey do to respond to anti-immigrant protest.

Dis latest batch comot from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport around 3:45 pm on Wednesday and arrive for Murtala Muhammed International Airport for Lagos dat night, wia govment officials come receive dem.

Di returness include men, women, and small pikin dem, as part of di ongoing effort wey Nigeria govment dey do to bring back dia citizens wey dey stranded amid di rising anti-migrant tension.

Authorities tok say di operation go kontinu, as concerns persist ova di safety of foreign nationals for South Africa afta weeks of protests wey dey target undocumented migrants.

Tok-tok pesin for di ministry of foreign affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, tell BBC on Thursday say "limited number of Nigerians" don return home earlier in di day.

E tok say dem don bring back "about 50" pipo from South Africa, and about 700 Nigerians wey register for di evacuation programme still dey wait to return.

More dan 1,000 Nigerians don show interest to return home afta anti-immigration protests and attacks wey dey target black foreign nationals spread to several parts of South Africa, according to Nigerian officials.

Responding to di growing concerns, bifor 30 June, wey some anti-immigration group give as deadline for undocumented migrants to comot for dia kontri.

Ebienfa tok say "logistical issues" dey slow down plans to move Nigerians wey wan return home, but e no give more details.

"We dey work seriously to see say we move di most vulnerable back to Nigeria bifor dat date." E tok.

Di repatriation program na voluntary, Nigerian authorities tok say pipo wey wan return bin ask for assistance to comot from South Africa.

Di situation don cause anxiety among some Nigerians wey dey live for South Africa, many dey fear say dem go be target as immigration tension continue to dey rise for some province in South Africa.

South Africa don experience weeks of anti-immigration protest, wit some group wey dey accuse foreign nationals say dem dey contribute to crime, unemployment and pressure on public service.

Several African kontris, like Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, don start to help dia citizens wey wan leave South Africa becos of safety concerns.

South African authorities urge pipo say make dem no take law into dia own hands. Police and govment officials don warn against vigilante action and dem say na only law enforcement agencies get authority to check immigration status or enforce immigration laws.

Security don increase ahead of planned protest for 30 June, police don identify potential hotspots and deploy extra officers for several provinces.

President Cyril Ramaphosa don condemn xenophobia and violence against foreign nationals while e dey promise stronger action against illegal immigration and quality border control systems.

During di live public address on Sunday 7 June, 2026, Ramaphosa say di kontri dey roll out different measures to curb illegal migration into South Africa.

"We must end illegal migration, we must deal wit di challenges. We reject di notion say we must tolerate illegal migration. We fit enforce our laws, we fit secure our communities. We fit overcome di problem of illegal migration," e tok.

Ramaphosa say dem dey face serious challenges, but no be illegal migration cause am.

"We know say migration na global issue, e dey affect many kontris around di world, our kontri like many odas throughout history na product of migration," e tok.

"Yet we must recognise say illegal immigration no be di cause of all our economic challenges."