Xenophobia: 189 Nigerians Have Been Evacuated From South Africa
Written by Smooth FM on September 12, 2019
189 Nigerians have arrived from South Africa on Wednesday following a wave of xenophobic violence that swept through the country and sparked sharp exchanges between the two countries.
A flight carrying 189 Nigerians landed in Lagos, with some of those onboard punching the air and singing the national anthem.
“We were expecting 317 but from the information we have 189 are on board,” said Nigeria’s minister for diaspora affairs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
“There was about a five-hour delay courtesy of the South African authorities who actually frustrated this return of Nigerians,” she said, blaming authorities in Johannesburg for failing to help Nigerians without travel documents.
“There was a lot of frustration in getting them back home but we’re glad that they will be here,” she added.
Leading the returnees in singing the national anthem, Dabiri-Erewa promised the government would provide financial support.
