A first batch of 262 Nigerian nationals [2] departed South Africa on Thursday following a surge in xenophobic attacks and safety concerns.

This exodus signals a deteriorating security environment for foreign nationals in South Africa. The sudden need for repatriation flights suggests that local tensions have escalated beyond the capacity of regional law enforcement to ensure the safety of migrant communities.

Nigerian citizens began arriving at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, June 10, 2026 [1]. The group gathered to board flights returning them to Lagos, Nigeria [2].

Recent unrest has been characterized by targeted hostility toward African migrants. Reports indicate that businesses owned by foreigners were looted, and individuals were targeted in renewed xenophobic attacks [1], [2]. These events created an atmosphere of fear that prompted the Nigerian government to organize the evacuation of its citizens.

The repatriation effort is a response to these rising safety fears [1]. While the first group consists of 262 people [2], the scale of the unrest suggests further departures may follow as more nationals seek to leave the region.

Officials and travelers focused on the logistics of the departure at OR Tambo International Airport. The flights mark the beginning of a coordinated effort to move Nigerian citizens out of the volatile environment in Johannesburg and surrounding areas [2].

“A first batch of 262 Nigerian nationals departed South Africa on Thursday.”

The repatriation of Nigerian citizens reflects a recurring pattern of xenophobic violence in South Africa that often targets fellow African migrants. This event underscores the fragility of social cohesion in urban centers like Johannesburg and may strain diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria, as the latter is forced to intervene to protect its citizens from systemic hostility.