Nigerians Exit South Africa as Tensions Rise
Last update: June 11, 2026
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Imagine being told to pack up and leave the country you’ve called home for 14 years – with just days’ notice. That’s the reality for Nigerians landing in Johannesburg this week.
So, here’s what’s going on, according to cbinewstv. Nigerian nationals fleeing a fresh wave of anti-immigrant anger in South Africa were at Johannesburg airport on Wednesday, getting ready to be flown home.
For weeks now, groups armed with sticks, whips and shields have been marching through parts of the country telling foreigners without papers to get out by the end of the month. It’s tense.
“You’re literally walking down the street, and someone can stop you and demand your papers,” says Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa. “People have been hurt; shops have been looted. So now there’s a chance to come home – we’re saying take it.”
Sadly, this isn’t new for South Africa. Back in 2008, more than 60 people were killed in what rights groups called xenophobic attacks on foreigners. Since then, we’ve seen anti-migrant riots and protests flare up again and again.
“The experience I’ve had here in South Africa is terrible,” Nigerian national Ona Charles told cbinews.tv. “I’ve been here 14 years – up and down, up and down, never stable. I’d rather go home with my life than go home with injuries.”
And there’s a catch for those leaving. An immigration official explained to cbinews.tv that Nigerians and other foreigners being repatriated will be blocked from coming back to South Africa for several years.
“We put them on a stop list, so they’ll all be declared what we call ‘undesirable’,” the official said. “It’s in the immigration act. Once you’re declared undesirable, that’s usually about a five-year ban before you can return to South Africa.”
Why is this happening? South Africa is the richest country in the region, so it’s always attracted migrants from neighbouring countries. But with unemployment sitting above 30%, anti-migrant groups are blaming foreigners for snatching jobs and piling pressure on public services.
#NigeriansInSouthAfrica #Repatriation #Xenophobia #SouthAfricaNews #MigrationCrisis #Johannesburg #cbinews #AfricaNews #AntiMigrantTensions #CbiNewsTv
Imagine being told to pack up and leave the country you’ve called home for 14 years – with just days’ notice. That’s the reality for Nigerians landing in Johannesburg this week.
So, here’s what’s going on, according to cbinewstv. Nigerian nationals fleeing a fresh wave of anti-immigrant anger in South Africa were at Johannesburg airport on Wednesday, getting ready to be flown home.
For weeks now, groups armed with sticks, whips and shields have been marching through parts of the country telling foreigners without papers to get out by the end of the month. It’s tense.
“You’re literally walking down the street, and someone can stop you and demand your papers,” says Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa. “People have been hurt, shops have been looted. So now there’s a chance to come home – we’re saying take it.”
Sadly, this isn’t new for South Africa. Back in 2008, more than 60 people were killed in what rights groups called xenophobic attacks on foreigners. Since then, we’ve seen anti-migrant riots and protests flare up again and again.
“The experience I’ve had here in South Africa is terrible,” Nigerian national Ona Charles told cbinews.tv. “I’ve been here 14 years – up and down, up and down, never stable. I’d rather go home with my life than go home with injuries.”
And there’s a catch for those leaving. An immigration official explained to cbinews.tv that Nigerians and other foreigners being repatriated will be blocked from coming back to South Africa for several years.
“We put them on a stop list, so they’ll all be declared what we call ‘undesirable’,” the official said. “It’s in the immigration act. Once you’re declared undesirable, that’s usually about a five-year ban before you can return to South Africa.”
Why is this happening? South Africa is the richest country in the region, so it’s always attracted migrants from neighbouring countries. But with unemployment sitting above 30%, anti-migrant groups are blaming foreigners for snatching jobs and piling pressure on public services.
#NigeriansInSouthAfrica #Repatriation #Xenophobia #SouthAfricaNews #MigrationCrisis #Johannesburg #cbinews #AfricaNews #AntiMigrantTensions #CbiNewsTv
