The evacuation of Nigerians willing to leave South Africa following the xenophobic attacks launched against them and other African citizens by the South African nationals will again continue tomorrow, Tuesday.
Tuesday evacuation is coming after 187 Nigerians had earlier been airlifted back to the country last Wednesday by Air peace airline free of charge.
Confirming this yesterday, the Chairman of the airline, Mr Allen Onyema declared that the airline would recommence the evacuation of the second batch of the Nigerians from South Africa, on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s flight according to the airline management is expected to arrive Lagos from OR Tambo International Airport by 7:00 pm Tuesday.
ALSO READ: Buhari to attend ECOWAS summit on counter terrorism
Onyema while stating that the flight would leave Nigeria after midnight on Tuesday, added that the flight will arrive South Africa in the morning and would depart South Africa mid-day back to Lagos.
The Air Peace Chairman also disclosed that out of over 600 Nigerians that are willing to come, 360 of them have been cleared for the evacuation but the airline would airlift 320 in the second batch, which is the capacity of the aircraft, a Boeing 777 that would be deployed for the flight.
There are also indications that despite the diplomatic efforts started by South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa to reach out to other African countries, including Nigeria to stay back, many Nigerians still want to leave the country because of uncertainty and lack of assurance that the hostility could be stopped by South African government.
ALSO READ: Hundreds of residents flee Hawaii volcano eruption
Aliu Saheed, a native of Osun State who returned to Nigeria with the Air Peace first flight on Wednesday explained that South African police could be overwhelmed by the violence, which he said had led to the death of many Nigerians and other Africans, noting that police might not be able to control the South Africans when they are ready to. unleash violence on other Africans.
“I stayed in Pretoria city. I have been in South Africa for five years now. The police can’t control them (the killings by South African youths). They just come to an area and start shooting and killing innocent people. The police release rubber bullets at the perpetrators of the violence, and they won’t be affected because the bullets are rubber.”
The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa said that it has been collaborating with Immigration to clear all Nigerians who wish to return to their country to be able to do so.