The first batch of 187 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the hajj and cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos on yesterday.
The returnees who arrived at 9.35pm aboard Air Peace aircraft decided to leave South Africa in the wake of ferocious attacks unleashed on foreigners by the South Africans.
One of the returnees, Victor Uche Nwaocha from Abia State who spoke with NewsGazette described his experience in that country as “terrible”.
Nwaocha, who comes from a family of ten, with four male and four female children said he went to South Africa to make a living and was doing well until the xenophobic assault on foreigners, particularly Nigerians began.
“I’m bleeding because I left my wife and baby but I have to come back because my mother cries for me to return. If something happens to me she will suffer.
“I was into confectionery business and I had top shops I supplied my products to. When the attack began, I lost everything. The supermarkets I used to supply goods to were torched. Virtually, every retail outlet I had customers closed shop while some were looted and vandalized by hooligans.
“I watched helplessly as my investment went down the drain. It is a sad story.
“I left my business, I came back with nothing. South Africans believe all Nigerians are drug pushers, but I don’t know the colour of any drug.
“I was not into drugs. I was doing legitimate business. Majority of Nigerians are doing legitimate business in South Africa. That the South Africans see us as a threat to their survival is something I don’t understand,” he said.
Another returnee, who gave his name as Christopher said the “South Africans are bestial.”
“Even as we were boarding the aircraft, they hurled insults at us, calling us unprintable names. They even took their bestiality to the airport by putting hurdles on our way to boarding the aircraft.
“What is their problem? The white people, the Chinese are all there. The South Africans don’t attack them. They attack only the blacks. It is shameful,” he said.
Another returnee, Aliu Saheed, from Osun State, said his shop was burgled and he came back home empty-handed.
However, he said “I’m happy to be home, I’m not going back again.
It was gathered that many Nigerians would have returned yesterday but the South African authorities cancelled their visas.
According to Channels TV’s correspondent in South Africa, some persons were turned back due to inadequate documentation for travelling with children, while about seven others were detained for allegedly entering the country illegally.
The chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had also told journalists that the South African authorities brought new immigration rules before the affected Nigerians could be allowed to board the aircraft.
Rehabilitation of returnees
Dabiri-Erewa said the Bank of Industry (BoI) will offer the evacuees some entrepreneurship programme and some support to start small businesses.
She said the returnees will decide the kind of training they want to undergo.
