Dozens of Nigerians in South Africa have taken refuge at the Nigerian High Commission over fears of possible xenophobic attacks linked to planned anti-immigrant protests, with many awaiting evacuation by the Federal Government.
Videos circulating on Monday showed large crowds at the mission as uncertainty persisted over the next phase of the evacuation exercise.
Women and children were reportedly given priority accommodation within the High Commission while arrangements were being made for others.
One of the stranded Nigerians said many sought shelter at the mission out of fear of the planned demonstrations rather than to immediately board evacuation flights.
He said the Federal Government was making efforts to evacuate citizens, noting that a second batch of returnees had already departed, while others were expected to leave later in the week.
Another Nigerian described the High Commission as the safest place for those who felt threatened, urging authorities to provide contingency plans for citizens who could not be evacuated immediately.
The development highlighted growing anxiety among Nigerians living in South Africa as many remain uncertain about when they will be evacuated despite ongoing government efforts.
The latest incident comes weeks after the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) raised concerns that hundreds of Nigerians registered for the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme had been left stranded due to delays in scheduled evacuation flights, worsening their humanitarian situation.
