Fourth Batch of Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Arrives Home

The fourth batch of Nigerians who chose to return home from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks has safely arrived in Nigeria.

The evacuation flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Friday, carrying 271 returnees from Johannesburg. The flight was operated by Air Peace as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing evacuation exercise.

Government officials had earlier confirmed that the aircraft departed Johannesburg around midnight on Thursday before arriving in Nigeria on Friday, July 3, 2026.

The latest group brings the total number of Nigerians evacuated under the programme to more than 860. The first evacuation flight returned 258 Nigerians on June 9, followed by a second flight with 66 returnees and a third carrying 269 people.

The evacuation exercise was organized to assist Nigerians who voluntarily decided to leave South Africa after a series of xenophobic attacks raised concerns about their safety and well-being. The Federal Government has continued to coordinate efforts to ensure affected citizens are safely brought back home.