Nigerian government evacuates 66 citizens from South Africa amid xenophobia.

The Nigerian federal government has evacuated a second group of its citizens—66 individuals—from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks.

The evacuees arrived at Lagos International Airport on Wednesday night, as part of an evacuation operation approved by President Bola Tinubu in response to recent xenophobic violence in South Africa.

Daily Post notes that on June 11, the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived by a chartered Air Peace flight.

Dipo Onabowale, head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Lagos, said the latest evacuation was facilitated by Kunle Soname, chairman and CEO of ValueJet, and that officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the returnees.

Onabowale, speaking on behalf of NiDCOM chairman Abike Dabiri‑Erewa, praised President Tinubu for approving the evacuation.

“There are 66 people in the second batch. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is addressing logistical challenges that arose during the first evacuation.”

“Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu has assured that all registered Nigerians in South Africa will be evacuated,” Onabowale added.