12th June, 2026 | News

Dabiri-Erewa Condemns Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa, Says ‘Enough Is Enough’

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has strongly condemned the latest wave of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa, describing the incidents as painful, disappointing and unacceptable.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Dabiri-Erewa expressed frustration over the recurring attacks and called for decisive action to protect Nigerians living in South Africa.

“Enough is enough,” she declared, adding that any official response regarding Nigeria’s diplomatic relationship with South Africa would be determined by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency.

She described the attacks as deeply troubling and stressed that Nigerian authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

First Batch of Evacuees Arrive Home

Her comments came shortly after Nigeria successfully evacuated the first group of citizens affected by the unrest.

A total of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos aboard an Air Peace flight and were received by government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye.

According to government officials, the evacuation was carried out to ensure the safety of Nigerians who faced threats, harassment and violence during the attacks.

The returnees are expected to undergo documentation, medical checks and temporary accommodation arrangements before being reunited with their families.

‘Their Only Crime Was Being Black Migrants’

Dabiri-Erewa rejected suggestions that the evacuated Nigerians were involved in criminal activities, insisting that they were targeted because of their identity as foreign black migrants.

According to her, none of the 258 returnees committed any offence, arguing that individuals should be held accountable for their actions rather than entire communities being unfairly stigmatized.

She criticized what she described as a failure by South African authorities to adequately address the attacks and prevent innocent migrants from becoming targets of violence.

Diplomatic Engagement Continues

Despite the evacuation effort, the NiDCOM boss emphasized that bringing citizens home is only a temporary measure and not a long-term solution to the problem.

She revealed that diplomatic discussions between Nigeria and South Africa are ongoing, with both countries continuing to engage through official channels.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs remains in contact with South African officials, while further discussions at the presidential level are expected.

She also disclosed that additional evacuation flights are being planned, with between three and five more batches of Nigerians likely to be returned home if necessary.

Dabiri-Erewa reiterated the need for stronger protections for Nigerians abroad and called for sustained diplomatic efforts to prevent future incidents of xenophobic violence.