The second group of Nigerians stranded in South Africa has arrived in Lagos as the Nigerian government continues its voluntary evacuation programme ahead of planned anti-immigration protests in South Africa on June 30.

More than 60 Nigerians departed from Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday and landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos later that night. They were received by government officials upon arrival. The returnees included men, women, and children who chose to leave South Africa due to growing fears over rising anti-immigrant tensions.

The latest evacuation follows the return of more than 260 Nigerians on June 11. A second evacuation flight had originally been scheduled for June 15 but was delayed because of logistical challenges, leaving hundreds of registered Nigerians waiting for transportation back home.

According to the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, about 50 additional Nigerians returned earlier on Thursday, while approximately 700 others who registered for the voluntary evacuation programme are still awaiting repatriation.

Nigerian authorities said more than 1,000 citizens have expressed interest in returning home following weeks of anti-immigration protests and attacks targeting black foreign nationals in several parts of South Africa.

The Nigerian government said the evacuation programme remains voluntary and is prioritising vulnerable citizens before the June 30 deadline issued by some anti-immigration groups calling for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.

The protests have heightened fears among many Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in South Africa, with concerns that they could become targets of violence. Protest groups have accused undocumented migrants of contributing to crime, unemployment, and increased pressure on public services.

Several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, have also begun assisting their citizens who wish to leave South Africa because of security concerns.

South African authorities have urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands, stressing that only law enforcement agencies have the authority to enforce immigration laws. Security has been increased ahead of the planned June 30 demonstrations, with additional police deployed to identified hotspots across several provinces.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned xenophobia and violence against foreign nationals while reaffirming his government’s commitment to tackling illegal immigration through stronger border controls and law enforcement.

In a national address on June 7, Ramaphosa acknowledged that illegal migration remains a challenge but insisted it is not responsible for all of South Africa’s economic difficulties.

“We must end illegal migration and enforce our laws,” the president said. “However, illegal immigration is not the cause of all our economic challenges. Migration is a global issue that affects many countries, including South Africa.”