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FG Evacuates 593 Nigerians From South Africa, Dismisses Claims of Payment for Rescue Flights
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By Gloria Ikibah
Following recent xenophobic protests, the Federal Government has evacuated 593 Nigerians from South Africa, with three additional evacuation flights scheduled to bring home hundreds more citizens who have indicated their willingness to return.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement signed by the Spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa on Thursday, disclosed this, saying that the evacuation exercise underscores the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad during times of crisis.
According to the Ebienfa, the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on 11 June aboard a special Air Peace flight and was received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, on behalf of the Federal Government before being handed over to relevant agencies for documentation and profiling.
He explained that logistical challenges delayed the second evacuation flight, resulting in some Nigerians being temporarily accommodated at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
The Spokesperson added that a Nigerian philanthropist voluntarily paid for the tickets of 66 stranded citizens, who subsequently returned to Lagos on 24 June aboard South African Airways.
A further 269 Nigerians arrived on a second government-coordinated evacuation flight on 30 June, bringing the total number of returnees to 593.
The ministry said the evacuation exercise was still ongoing.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to assure Nigerians that three additional flights will be operated in the next few days to ensure that all Nigerians who voluntarily registered to be evacuated and have been duly screened and cleared are brought back safely to the country. The expected number in that regard is 700 Nigerians”, the statement read.
According to the statement, the next evacuation flight will arrive on Friday, 3 July, carrying 271 returnees, with touchdown expected at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 5.30am.
The ministry also dismissed reports alleging that officials at the Nigerian mission in South Africa demanded money from stranded citizens before registering them for evacuation, and described the allegations as unfounded.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to place on record that all the special evacuation flights are fully paid for by the Federal Government and at no cost to the returnees.
“This clarification is necessitated by insinuations and false allegations that some staff of the Nigerian Mission were requesting money before enlisting our nationals for the evacuation flights. That is totally false, fake news, and should be discarded”, it stated
The ministry commended the collaboration among relevant ministries, departments and agencies involved in the operation, describing the exercise as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians overseas.
“The evacuation process clearly underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It also reflects the Government’s determination to ensure that Nigerians affected by crises abroad receive the necessary support, dignity, and care. The lives of Nigerians living abroad matters and we are trying our best as a Ministry to give them a sense of belonging”, it added.
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 22 suspects and rescued two minors during an intelligence-led raid on suspected illicit drug dens and criminal hideouts in Ozoro and Abraka communities.
The operation, carried out on July 21, was part of the command’s ongoing campaign against illicit drug trafficking and related crimes across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday, saying the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations.
Edafe said, “On 21st July 2026, at about 1500 hours, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, led operatives of the Command on a coordinated raid of identified illicit drug dens and criminal hideouts at Ofagbe Community, Ozoro, Ekrejeta, and the NUT Area, Abraka, following credible intelligence.
“The operation led to the arrest of 22 suspects, comprising 19 males and three females, for offences relating to the sale, possession, and distribution of illicit drugs.
“During the operation, operatives also rescued two minors who were found in a suspected drug den allegedly operated by their father.
“The children have been taken into protective custody. They will be handed over to the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs for appropriate care and safeguarding, while investigations into the activities of the suspects are ongoing.”
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, described the discovery of minors in a suspected drug environment as “deeply disturbing.”
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and protecting vulnerable persons.
The commissioner also urged parents, guardians and community leaders to continue supporting the police with useful information, assuring residents that “the Command will sustain intelligence-led operations to rid Delta State of illicit drug activities and other forms of criminality.”
On July 10, the Yobe State Police Command arrested 14 suspected drug dealers during a coordinated raid on criminal hideouts and drug joints in Jakusko Local Government Area of the state.
The officers also recovered over 300 sachets and packages of suspected illicit drugs, including Tramadol, Vega tablets, Indian hemp and other prohibited.
Abia State Police Command has began investigation to uncover the root cause of the death of five persons from a single family, who were discovered dead in their family house at Umuimo, Osisioma Ngwa local government area of the State on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Decomposing corpses of the five Umuimo residents were discovered by their neighbors and other community members, about three days after they had retired to bed.
It was gathered that the father of the House, late Mr. Kachi Nnabugwu, his wife, Mrs. Chinaza Nnabugwu and their three little children could not come out of their house since Sunday, a situation that made the neighbors to force their locked house open after repeated knocking, only for the five family members to be found dead.
Containers of left over food and a generator set were reportedly found in the building, after the house had been broken open.
The bodies of the victims were on Wednesday evacuated from the compound and taken to the mortuary, even as residents of the area demanded a government thorough investigation to determine the actual cause of their death.
Contacted on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident, saying that investigation had commenced.
“Yes, the attention of the Osisioma Divisional Police Headquarters was drawn to the incident on 22/07/2026 by the brother of the deceased who reported that after being unable to reach Kachi Nnabugwu, they proceeded to his residence at Umuimo Village, Osisioma LGA.
“Upon arrival, repeated knocks yielded no response. They subsequently forced entry into the house, where they discovered the lifeless and decomposing bodies of their brother and his family.
“The crime scene has been visited. A preliminary visual inspection of the bodies was conducted, and photographs taken.
The corpses have been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy,” DSP Chinaka said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu(first right) decorating Dr. Hycinth Azuka Edozie with his new rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police. Mr. Chidi Dozie is helping the IGP in the task.
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