Eighty-three Nigerians have returned to Lagos from South Africa amid renewed xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants.

According Channels Television, the returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg.

The development was disclosed by the spokesman for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, in a statement on Wednesday night.

The returnees were accompanied by two officials from the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg.

On arrival, they were received by the Director of the African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe, on behalf of the Federal Government.

The returnees were subsequently handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling before being reunited with their families.

Ebienfa said the repatriation was made possible through flight tickets procured by private individuals who supported the safe return of the Nigerians.

He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, the private sponsors and government agencies involved in the reception and reintegration process.

The ministry also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare and safe return of Nigerians abroad.

South Africa has experienced recurring anti-migrant violence for nearly two decades. Recent tensions intensified after vigilante groups reportedly ordered undocumented foreigners to leave the country by June 30.

An AFP tally cited by Channels Television indicates that more than 176,000 people have left South Africa in recent weeks following repatriation efforts by several African countries.

South African police have reported at least four migrant deaths in the violence, although some foreign governments have put the figure higher.

Nigeria has previously raised concerns over attacks on its citizens in South Africa and has pushed for the issue of anti-migrant violence to be discussed by the African Union.