The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has strongly condemned renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa, with its Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa declaring that “enough is enough.”
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Dabiri-Erewa described the situation as “terrible, disappointing, painful,” and said Nigeria’s diplomatic response would be determined at the highest level of government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and potentially the Presidency.
Her remarks followed the evacuation of the first batch of Nigerians affected by the unrest, with 258 returnees arriving in Lagos on an Air Peace flight. The group was received by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is currently undergoing documentation, medical checks and temporary accommodation arrangements before reintegration with families.
Dabiri-Erewa rejected claims that the Nigerians targeted were involved in criminal activity, insisting they were attacked solely because of their identity as black migrants.
“The only crime they committed was the colour of their skin,” she said, adding that individuals responsible for wrongdoing should be held accountable without collective punishment.
She stressed that evacuation is only a short-term response, noting that diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and South Africa is ongoing. According to her, discussions are expected to continue between foreign ministers and possibly both heads of state, with additional evacuation batches planned.
The development adds to longstanding concerns over repeated xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has previously triggered diplomatic tensions and evacuation efforts involving Nigerian citizens.
