A wave of fear has gripped the Nigerian diaspora as a fresh surge of xenophobic attacks in South Africa is forcing many families to abandon their businesses and return to Nigeria.
Following a series of violent anti-immigration protests in Johannesburg and Pretoria this week, reports have confirmed the killing of at least two Nigerian nationals, sparking a diplomatic outcry and a desperate scramble for repatriation.
This is as the Nigerian Consulate in the country, in collaboration with the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, has offered a free repatriation flight to Nigerians willing to return home permanently in the wake of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
This was made known by the President of NICASA, Frank Onyekwelu, who confirmed that the attacks had forced many Nigerians to shut their shops and businesses.
According to him, there is currently no structured support system in place for affected Nigerians, but the consulate’s intervention is already providing an option for those who wish to leave.
Onyekwelu said many Nigerians were already indicating interest in returning home.
He said, “The Nigerian Consulate in conjunction with NICASA has offered a free repatriation flight to any Nigerian who wishes to leave South Africa permanently, and the process is ongoing as we have recorded many Nigerians signalling interest to return home.”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians in South Africa have narrated their harrowing experiences.
They lamented that the recurring violence had continued to threaten their safety, livelihoods, and mental well-being.
Those who spoke to our correspondents said they had been forced to stay indoors, and were now living in constant fear amid targeted attacks on foreign nationals.
Violent anti-foreigner protests erupted in cities such as Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, East London, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in harassment, looting, property damage, and injuries.
This has triggered fear and panic within the diaspora community, with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission directing Nigerian business owners to temporarily shut down to minimise risks and avoid losses.
The protests, according to reports, are being driven by community groups, anti-immigration organisations, and social movements such as Operation Dudula, the March and March Movement, and similar local initiatives, often under the banner of tackling illegal immigration and unemployment.
The demonstrations are organised by groups accusing migrants of causing economic hardship and crime, with activists demanding the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals, particularly those from African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Somalia.
Recall also that the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg recently confirmed that the two victims, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, were killed in separate incidents linked to the attacks.
The Consul-General, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed in a statement on Monday that Emmanuel died from injuries allegedly sustained after being beaten by personnel of the South African National Defence Force on April 20.
Andrew, she said, was apprehended on April 19 in the Booysens area of Pretoria following an alleged altercation with members of the Tshwane Metro Police, and his body was later discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary.
In a related development, an Ethiopian national was shot dead in what appeared to be a targeted killing in downtown Johannesburg, further heightening concerns over the safety of foreign nationals.
