NIGERIA TO REPATRIATE HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

An image showing blood everywhere due to xenophobic (courtesy of Al-jazeera)

Nigeria will repatriate about 600 citizens from South Africa this week following a wave deadly xenophobic violence that has sparked exchanges between the two countries.
"They are about 600 now"to be flown back ,Godwin Adamu ,Nigerian Consul General in Johannesburg,told AFP  news agency on Monday.
A first flight will carry 320 Nigerians ,Adamu said adding:"We will have another one immediately after that", Bashir Ahmed ,an assistant to Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari said the president gave instruction for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians who are willing to return home.

Courtesy of Al-jazeera

Johannesburg and sorrounding areas were word by a series of deadly attack on foreigners last week,including many directed against Nigerian-owned businesses and properties.
Atleast 10 people were killed and hundreds of shops destroyed ,while more than 420 people were arerested .
More than 100,000 Nigerians are estimated to live in South Africa ,Adamu said
Foreign workers in South Africa ,the continent's second largest economy after Nigeria are often victims of anti-immigrant sentiment in a nation where almost a third of people are unemployed .
The violence prompted reprisal attacks against South Africa firms in Nigeria and the tenporary closure of South Africa's diplomatic mission in Lagos and Abuja.
Nigeria last week summoned the South Africa ambassador to condemn the violence while sending an envoy to meet president Cyril Ramaphosa .
After a week of hardening rhetoric against South Africa ,Nigeria pledged to "work as brothers"
"Nigeria does not seek an escalation of the ongoing situation ," a senior aid to Buhari told reporters.