A fresh batch of 266 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday as the Federal Government intensified efforts to repatriate citizens affected by ongoing xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests.

The evacuation followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that the exercise should continue beyond the June 30 deadline issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

She said nearly 600 Nigerians had already been evacuated in three earlier batches before the deadline, adding that the latest operation was carried out aboard a Federal Government-funded Air Peace charter flight, which departed Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport early Friday.

Although the aircraft carried 268 people, including two officials and crew members, authorities confirmed that 266 Nigerian returnees disembarked in Lagos.

Government agencies received the returnees at the airport, where documentation, profiling, medical screening, welfare support and arrangements for onward transportation to their various destinations commenced immediately.

The Federal Government also disclosed that additional evacuation flights are being planned to facilitate the safe return of more Nigerians still affected by the situation in South Africa.