Nigeria plans to repatriate nationals willing to leave South Africa over attacks

Nigeria is planning to repatriate its nationals in South Africa willing to return home voluntarily, amid growing fears that recent attacks on foreigners there could escalate. Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said 130 applicants had already registered for the exercise, adding that the number was expected to rise. She expressed President Bola Tinubu's concern about the attacks in the southern African nation, and condemned the violence against foreign nationals and demonstrations characterised by "xenophobic rhetoric, hate speeches and incendiary anti-migrant statements". Nigeria will formally convey its "profound concern" at a meeting later on Monday over the incidents in South Africa, saying they could affect existing relations between the countries, according to a foreign ministry statement. The meeting will focus on recent marches held by anti-immigrant groups and "documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses", it said. On Sunday, Nigeria's foreign minister said: "Nigerian lives and businesses in South Africa must not continue to be put at risk, and we remain committed to working to explore with South Africa ways to put an end to this." She cited the killing of two Nigerians in separate incidents involving local security personnel, insisting that her government was demanding justice. She said the Nigerian president's priority was for the safety of citizens and "consequently, arrangements are currently under way to co