Chidi Francis, a Nigerian migrant, returned home with an injured eye and a shattered business after eight years in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was one of thousands of Nigerians who left their country in search of better economic opportunities, only to face xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Chidi's ordeal began in 2018 when he left Nnewi, Anambra State, for Johannesburg with a clear mission: to hustle and make it big. He raised $2,000 to process his visa and travel documents, costing over N2m.
Chidi's initial months in Johannesburg were marked by struggle, but he eventually secured a small shop and began selling groceries. His business boomed, and he was able to buy his own shop, marry a Zimbabwean woman, and have two children. However, his success was short-lived, as xenophobic attacks began to target his shop and other African-owned businesses. Chidi recounted that his shop was broken into, and his goods were taken, with the attackers repeatedly telling him to leave South Africa.
The attacks on Chidi and other African migrants were not limited to property damage; they also faced physical violence. Chidi was dealt a heavy blow to his left eye during one of the attacks and uses dark glasses to cover the injured eye. He counts himself lucky to have survived more than five attacks, including one where his brother was shot dead. The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg confirmed that three Nigerians were killed in separate incidents across South Africa between Friday and Monday.
The resurgence of xenophobic attacks in South Africa has pressured thousands of African migrants, including Nigerians, to seek refuge back home. Chidi is one of 1,821 Nigerians who have been evacuated from South Africa by the Federal Government since June 10, 2026, with the support of other groups and individuals. The evacuation of Chidi and 99 others was funded by the $265,854 donation made by the Redeemed Christian Church of God towards the purchase of one-way tickets for the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
The Nigerian Immigration Service disclosed that over 3.6 million Nigerians had migrated to other countries within a space of two years, mostly in search of better opportunities overseas due to economic hardship. Many of these migrants had taken the South African route, but the recent xenophobic attacks have made them reconsider their decision. For Chidi and other returnees, the flight home was more than a journey; it was a return from lives they had spent years building.
Other returnees, including Vivian Ogbeneochuko and Christian Okafor, described the xenophobic attacks they witnessed as "terrible". Vivian likened her return to Nigeria to being delivered from the "spirit of death" that constantly hung over her while in South Africa. The returnees have painful tales of their sojourn in South Africa, where they faced violence, harassment, and intimidation.
The Nigerian government has been working to evacuate more citizens from South Africa, with the latest return of 105 Nigerians constituting the 13th consular evacuation from South Africa since the exercise began on June 10, 2026. The government has also been working to provide support to the returnees, including providing them with assistance to reintegrate into Nigerian society.
Key points
- Over 3.6 million Nigerians have migrated to other countries within a space of two years, mostly in search of better opportunities overseas due to economic hardship.
- The Federal Government has evacuated 1,821 Nigerians from South Africa since June 10, 2026, with the support of other groups and individuals.
- Three Nigerians were killed in separate incidents across South Africa between Friday and Monday, according to the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg.
