Nigeria Launches Repatriation for Citizens in South Africa

Nigeria's government has launched a voluntary repatriation program for its citizens in South Africa, where about 130 people have registered to return home amid rising anti-foreigner protests and attacks targeting African immigrants. The effort, announced over the weekend, follows the deaths of two Nigerians in separate incidents involving South African security personnel last month.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the interested individuals fall into two groups: legal residents who feel unsafe due to threats and harassment, and those with expired visas or residency violations seeking to avoid arrest. "Those that have indicated interest for a voluntary return to Nigeria are some persons that don't have the legal requirement to live in South Africa," Ebienfa told reporters after Nigerian officials summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner in Abuja on Monday. He noted that returnees must fund their own flights, with the government coordinating through its missions rather than providing aircraft, though assistance could increase if tensions escalate.

The victims included Amamiro Chidiebere Emmanuel and individuals identified in reports as Nnaemeka Matthew...