…Abike Dabiri-Erewa speaks
CITIZENS COMPASS— Some Nigerian returnees from South Africa have said that they were treated like animals during their sojourn outside their country.
The returnees expressed sadness that despite the number of years they had lived in South Africa, they had nothing to show for it as their lives were in danger following the xenophobic attacks launched at them by their host country.
They spoke in Lagos following their arrival at the International airport.
Meanwhile, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), yesterday, said that the Nigerian returnees from South Africa do not commit crime by travelling outside the country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the returnees should not be condemned for any reason.
She was speaking following the return of 258 persons from South Africa over xenophobic attacks in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the Commission was happy to receive the returnees.
She spoke on a Channels Television breakfast programme, ‘Politics Today’, following the arrival of the first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa.
Dabiri-Erewa described their ordeal as “terrible, disappointing and painful”.
According to her: Of the 258 that came in, none of them committed any crime. The only crime they committed was the colour of their skin; they are black migrants in South Africa.
Citizens Compass reports that the 258 returnees arrived in Lagos on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a federal government-coordinated repatriation exercise launched in response to weeks of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in the country.
The returnees, comprising men, women and children, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Cargo Terminal) aboard an Air Peace flight.
The returnees were received by NiDCOM, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other government agencies for documentation.
Receiving the returnees at the airport, the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa, Alexander Temitope Ajayi, said, “I want to start by thanking the Almighty God for bringing us this far and for bringing us here safely.
“The people you see here today are our fellow Nigerians who have decided to come back home to escape the irresponsible violence that has been taking place in South Africa. They are in good spirits and have been looking forward to returning home since we started this process.”
He disclosed that the 258 evacuees constitute the first batch in the planned evacuation exercise and commended President Tinubu for personally driving the initiative.
According to him, the president became deeply concerned shortly after the crisis began and established a direct communication channel involving the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria to monitor developments and coordinate the response.
“From the very day the crisis started, Mr President established what we called a hotline communication between himself, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the mission in South Africa. Every day, he sought updates on developments and possible actions,” he said.
Some of the returnees expressed happiness to be back home.
A returnee who did not want his name in print said: I left Nigeria in 2013. Along the line, things were not easy and I couldn’t survive the situation. I was doing well in Nigeria taking care of my four children before I travelled abroad for greener pastures. South Africans regard us as animals simply because we come from a poor country.
Another returnee, Elijah Ukeuoma, said there is no place like home.
