NIGERIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA SEEK REFUGE AT SOUTH AFRICA EMBASSY OVER FEAR OF ANTI-IMMIGRATION PROTEST
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Some Nigerians in South Africa went to the Nigerian High Commission for safety because they were scared of possible xenophobic attacks.Many said they are still stuck there, even though the Nigerian government is trying to help them leave.
A video shared by News Central on Monday showed a group of Nigerians gathered at the embassy, unsure about the latest evacuation plan.
The report says only those who were contacted by the embassy were set to leave for Nigeria on Monday night.
Others who came to the embassy were still waiting and couldn’t leave.
Women and children were given priority to stay inside the embassy overnight while officials worked on plans for the rest of the evacuees.
One of the stranded Nigerians expressed optimism that more citizens would be evacuated later in the week.
“By God’s grace, I think the Nigerian government, they are trying to make plans for the citizens of Nigeria, maybe Wednesday or Friday,” the returnee said.
While acknowledging that a second batch had departed, the individual added that there had been “a lot of improvement” in the evacuation process and expressed hope that those left behind would soon be accommodated.
xplaining why many Nigerians had gathered at the embassy despite not being scheduled to travel, the evacuee said they feared a possible outbreak of violence linked to planned anti-immigrant demonstrations.
“Because of the rumour we are hearing that there will be a crisis tomorrow… we are here to just take safety. We don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow, so we are in the Nigerian embassy for safety,” he said.
Another individual at the embassy said many of those gathered had fled their homes after becoming fearful of the planned protests.
“When you’ve been chased and when you’re afraid, the next thing you could do is to run to your father’s house,” the person said, adding that those outside the embassy were “stranded Nigerians that are unsafe within their immediate vicinity because of the planned march for tomorrow.”
He asked Nigerian officials to prepare backup plans for people who couldn’t leave right away.He said, “We are asking the authorities here: what are the plans, what are the backup plans for Nigerians who are outside the country?It’s for their safety and for them to find shelter.”
This meeting happens as the federal government announced that another Air Peace evacuation flight left Nigeria on Monday.
The evacuation is happening because there are growing worries about planned protests against immigrants, which are expected to start on June 30.
The Federal Government had earlier approved five Air Peace evacuation flights to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians willing to leave South Africa.
Before the latest operation, 328 Nigerians had been evacuated in two batches, while more than 700 others were reported to remain stranded amid concerns over bureaucratic delays and rising fears of xenophobic attacks.
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