At least 130 Nigerians have signed up for voluntary evacuation flights from South Africa as Nigeria steps up efforts to protect its citizens amid rising anti-foreigner protests in the country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed in a statement on Sunday that the evacuation plan is part of coordinated diplomatic and security actions involving Nigerian missions in South Africa. The move follows directives from President Bola Tinubu, who ordered increased monitoring and stronger protection for Nigerians abroad.
She said the priority remains citizen safety, adding that registration is ongoing for Nigerians who wish to return voluntarily. So far, 130 people have already signed up, with more expected as the situation develops.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also confirmed that Nigeria has engaged South African authorities, including summoning the Acting High Commissioner, while diplomatic talks continue over the unrest.
The protests, driven by anti-immigrant sentiments in cities such as Pretoria and Johannesburg, have raised concerns in Nigeria. While South African officials have condemned violence, viral footage of clashes and inflammatory rhetoric has intensified international alarm.
According to the minister, recent demonstrations were largely peaceful but still required heavy police presence. She noted that no Nigerian deaths or property destruction were recorded during the latest protests, although two separate deaths of Nigerians linked to security personnel interactions were reported earlier and are under investigation.
One victim, Amamiro Chidiebere Emmanuel, reportedly died from injuries after an alleged assault by military personnel, while another, Nnaemeka Matthew Andrew, was found dead after an alleged encounter with metro police.
Nigeria says it is demanding justice in both cases while working closely with South African authorities to ensure the safety of its nationals. Further protests are expected in early May, prompting continued diplomatic coordination and evacuation planning
