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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Over 20 Nigerians died in recent xenophobic attacks — Union president, Onyekwelu

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Ongoing story
  • Hundreds of Nigerians are returning home from South Africa due to ongoing harassment, xenophobic attacks, and loss of livelihoods.
  • Repatriation efforts are being facilitated by the Nigerian government, with initial flights carrying hundreds of citizens.
  • Nigerians face challenges including difficulty obtaining work permits, looting of businesses, and persistent harassment based on their nationality.

A significant number of Nigerians are returning to their home country from South Africa, driven by escalating xenophobic violence, economic hardship, and pervasive harassment. The Nigerian government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg, is actively facilitating a repatriation exercise.

Even if they are going back to start afresh, at least they will not be harassed in their own country.

— Reverend Frank OnyekweluExplaining the motivation for Nigerians to return home despite the challenges of starting over.

Nearly 1,000 Nigerians were initially slated for repatriation, with the first flight carrying approximately 268 individuals. These returnees include minors, women, and men who have faced various challenges, such as health issues, the looting of their businesses during anti-foreign national protests, and the inability to secure employment due to documentation issues.

Some of them have health issues that no longer allow them to continue living here. Others had their shops looted during protests against foreign nationals, which destroyed their means of livelihood.

— Reverend Frank OnyekweluDetailing the reasons why Nigerians are opting for repatriation.

"Even if they are going back to start afresh, at least they will not be harassed in their own country," said Reverend Frank Onyekwelu, President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa. He described how South Africans often identify and harass foreigners, even when presented with valid documentation, frequently claiming papers are fake without proper verification.

When South Africans realise that you do not speak their language, they immediately identify you as a foreigner and often harass you.

— Reverend Frank OnyekweluDescribing the basis for harassment faced by Nigerians in South Africa.

The screening process for repatriation involves collaboration between South African authorities, including the police and departments of Home Affairs and International Relations, alongside Nigeria's Consulate and High Commission. Nigerian lawyers and doctors also provide assistance, assessing eligibility and fitness for travel. Community leaders and members have stepped in to help those without the means to reach screening venues or afford transport, demonstrating solidarity amidst the crisis.

They may claim your papers are fake, even though they often do not have the equipment needed to verify whether a document is genuine or not.

— Reverend Frank OnyekweluIllustrating the arbitrary nature of harassment and document checks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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