Nigerians who fled SA over xenophobic attacks arrive in Lagos
The Air Peace flight which conveyed some Nigerians who left South Africa over xenophobic attacks touched down at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at exactly 9:35pm on Wednesday.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), led officials to receive them.
Also on ground to welcome them back home are officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), among others.
Speaking with reporters shortly after disembarking from the plane, Jude Anthony, one of the returnees, said xenophobia is being driven by the South African government.
The aircraft at the tarmac
Dabiri-Erewa said a total of 187 Nigerians were evacuated from South Africa.
The development follows a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa.
The president gave this order after receiving the report of the special envoy whom he dispatched to South Africa over xenophobic attacks.
South Africa has not done well and Nigeria and Nigerians will always remember this.
The safety of our own comes first.