South African officials arrest returning Nigerians at airport

Reports are emerging that the South African
authorities have started arresting some Nigerians
who are set to return home following increased
xenophobic attacks against them.

South African security
agents were on Wednesday afternoon arrested
Nigerians already profiled for evacuation out of the
country for not possessing travel documents.
Fresh information showed that the South African
officials showed up at the last minute of when the
Nigerian citizens caught up in xenophobic attacks
were already positioned to start boarding the Air
Peace aircraft.
The aircraft was parked at the tarmac of the Oliver
Tambo international airport as early as 4:00 am
Wednesday morning when the South African
officials effected the arrests.

An official of the Nigerian high commission told
journalists: “South Africa is frustrating Nigeria. The
Air Peace aircraft has been there since 4:00 am.
Their Immigration started giving our High
Commission problems. They said some Nigerians
didn’t have papers. Immigration is arresting them,
asking them to explain how they came to South
Africa.
“They are frustrating the Nigerian High Commission,
taking the passengers away. They want to frustrate
the airline and the Nigerian government. The aircraft
has been burning fuel since 4:00 am. They are not
happy that Nigeria is evacuating its citizens. They
don’t want the world to know that a Nigerian airline
and Nigerian government is evacuating them.