•Last batch of Nigerian returnees from South Africa at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos …recently. Photos: Adeniyi Sulaimon
For years, South Africa was home. It was where many Nigerians built businesses, bought cars, rented homes, raised children and believed they had finally found the opportunities that had eluded them in Nigeria. Then the threats began. As anti-foreigner hostility spread, survival became more important than success. One after another, they abandoned their investments and boarded evacuation flights home, carrying little more than the hope of staying alive, OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN writes
For many Nigerians, South Africa once symbolised the promise of a better life—a place where hard work, resilience and determination could unlock opportunities that had become increasingly scarce at home. For years, thousands left Nigeria in search of economic stability, building businesses, raising families and supporting loved ones while contributing to their host communities.
But for many, that dream has come to a painful end. What took years—and in some cases more than a decade—to build was lost within weeks as renewed xenophobic tensions forced hundreds of Nigerians to flee for their lives, abandoning businesses, homes, vehicles and investments accumulated over a lifetime.
The latest wave of returnees arrived in Nigeria through an emergency evacuation programme coordinated by the Federal Government following renewed anti-immigrant campaigns and growing hostility towards foreign nationals in South Africa.
The homecoming was marked by grief and relief in equal measure. At the airport, many returnees fought back tears as they recounted the terrifying experiences that forced them to leave. Some broke down while describing how they fled with little or nothing, leaving behind years of hard work and sacrifice.
The evacuation became necessary amid renewed attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians, fuelled by rising xenophobic rhetoric that blames migrants for unemployment, crime and mounting pressure on public services.
Political organisations such as ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance and uMkhonto we Sizwe have repeatedly portrayed migrants as competitors for scarce economic opportunities, while anti-immigration groups, including Operation Dudula and March and March, intensified campaigns demanding that foreigners leave the country.
Across social media, disturbing videos showed crowds marching through communities, chanting anti-immigrant slogans and openly threatening foreign nationals. Nigerians, Zimbabweans and other African migrants increasingly became targets of intimidation, with reports of assaults, looting and forced displacement spreading across affected areas. Faced with mounting fears for their safety, many chose to abandon everything they had worked for rather than risk becoming victims of violence.
According to officials of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the Federal Government evacuated more than 1,000 Nigerians in six separate flights. Air Peace transported 258, 266, 262 and 282 returnees in four evacuation operations, while ValueJet airlifted another 66 before a final chartered flight brought home 40 more Nigerians.
For Okeke Boniface, returning to Nigeria marked the painful end of a journey that had lasted nearly 13 years.
The Enugu State indigene left Nigeria in 2013 in search of a better future. Working as a chef, he gradually found his footing, built a modest business and supported relatives back home. Over time, South Africa became more than a place of work; it became the foundation upon which he built his adult life.
Standing outside the evacuation aircraft shortly after arriving in Nigeria, Boniface struggled to describe the emotional weight of what he had endured.
“The experience I had in South Africa is unforgettable,” he said, pausing as though searching for words strong enough to capture his ordeal. “I experienced a lot of dangerous situations and a lot of trauma, but I thank God that I am back in my father’s land.”
According to him, life changed dramatically when anti-immigrant sentiments intensified. Fear spread quickly through migrant communities as reports of coordinated attacks became more frequent.
“It started early last month. They started chasing everyone. They told everybody they must go home, whether you have a permit or not,” he recalled.
Although Boniface was never physically attacked, he said the warnings became impossible to ignore. His South African landlord, worried about his safety, privately advised him to leave before the violence reached his neighbourhood.
“My landlord told me many people were planning to attack us from house to house. He likes me and didn’t want anything to happen to me,” he said.
The warning forced him into a decision he never imagined making.
“When the danger came closer, my years of labour suddenly meant little compared to staying alive. I left my business and my car and came back home. I handed my car to a friend to sell and send me the money, but for now, I don’t know what will happen.”
Despite the losses, Boniface says he has no intention of returning to South Africa.
“I can’t go back. I want to stay in my father’s land, and I know I will succeed because I am a hustler.”
He also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for evacuating him safely.
“I thank the Nigerian government. May God give them wisdom and understanding to continue leading Nigerian citizens,” he added.
Another returnee, Benjamin Okoye, shared a similar story of interrupted dreams. The Anambra State indigene said leaving South Africa was no longer an economic decision but one driven by survival.
“To stay alive, I had to leave everything behind. My means of livelihood and my house are now things of the past. I am my mother’s only son, and she kept calling me throughout this crisis,” he said.
Okoye dismissed claims that only undocumented migrants were targeted during the attacks.
“People say those being targeted are only those without papers. That is not true. My friend and I both had valid documents, but we are here today. We went there believing it was a greener pasture, but it has turned out to be something else.”
For Milly Abuh, years of hard work disappeared almost overnight. She said she had been running a small retail business until officials shut it down.
“I had a shop where I did my business. The police came and closed it because I couldn’t provide what they called proper documentation. When I tried to ask questions, they started beating me,” she alleged.
Lara Jacob insisted she had always complied with South Africa’s immigration laws and possessed valid documents until authorities refused to renew her permit during the recent crackdown.
“I wasn’t staying illegally in South Africa. I had my permit, but when I wanted to renew it, they refused. They simply told us to go home and fix our country,” she said.
According to Jacob, the hostility extended beyond government offices.
“They always threatened to kill us if we didn’t leave. I lived in fear because it felt as though there were no laws protecting foreigners anymore.”
She also recounted the ordeal of a Zimbabwean friend who, she alleged, was raped without justice being served.
“A South African raped my friend, and nothing was done. Two of my neighbours also had their businesses looted several times,” she said.
For Igwe Roda Chioma, the deepest wounds were emotional rather than financial. After spending two years in South Africa, she said the constant feeling of exclusion became unbearable.
“They no longer wanted foreigners. There was discrimination everywhere. When they spoke their language and you couldn’t respond, it immediately marked you as someone who didn’t belong. It wasn’t a good experience. I am just grateful to be back home safely,” she said.
Now focused on rebuilding her life and caring for her two young children, Chioma hopes for a fresh start.
“I just want to get a job so I can take care of my children and myself. I don’t like talking about what happened. Not just me, many Nigerians have lost so much because of these attacks.”
Calls for action, but no sanctions yet
Despite the renewed xenophobic attacks and the evacuation of more than 1,000 Nigerians from South Africa, the Federal Government is yet to announce any diplomatic or economic sanctions against Pretoria or South African businesses operating in Nigeria.
In the aftermath of the attacks, several political leaders called for tougher measures to demonstrate Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of its citizens.
Among the most vocal was former Edo State Governor and Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, who urged the Federal Government to consider sanctions against South African businesses operating in Nigeria. Speaking both on the floor of the Senate and in media interviews, Oshiomhole argued that Nigeria should take decisive action to signal that attacks on its citizens would not be tolerated.
The Senate also renewed its warning last Tuesday that Nigeria could review its diplomatic relations with South Africa if the xenophobic attacks persist. Lawmakers condemned the reported targeting of Nigerians and their businesses, describing the development as unacceptable.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who drew the attention of the Red Chamber to the June 30, 2026 ultimatum allegedly issued to Nigerians residing in South Africa, describing it as a grave threat to their safety, livelihoods and continued residence in the country.
While lawmakers have repeatedly advocated stronger diplomatic and economic measures, no formal sanctions or policy actions had been announced by the Federal Government as of the time of filing this report.
Akinlotan is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of experience reporting on politics, social justice, motoring, railways, and and social change, producing stories that inspire reform and amplify underrepresented voices. Akinlotan’s reporting reflects extensive newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a strong commitment to accurate, impact-driven journalism
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