Nigeria government receives first batch of South Africa returnees

The first batch of Nigerians fleeing xenophobic violence in South Africa has arrived Lagos.

The 187 people on board were the first batch of around 600 Nigerians who wanted to return home following a wave of anti-immigrant violence in the cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Their departure from the or Tambo international airport in Johannesburg was delayed by eight hours.

The Nigerian mission in South Africa said some people were turned back due to inadequate documentation for travelling with children.

The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, noted that a second flight will be flying to Johannesburg to fetch those that remain.