Nigeria's evacuation of citizens affected by anti-migrant violence in South Africa continued on Friday, with another batch of returnees arriving safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the Air Peace charter flight brought home 268 Nigerians, along with two officers and crew members, after departing O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said President Bola Tinubu directed that the evacuation exercise should continue despite the expiration of the June 30 deadline issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa.

She disclosed that nearly 600 Nigerians had already been evacuated in three earlier batches before the deadline, adding that the operation remains ongoing for citizens who voluntarily registered and were screened for evacuation. The Minister said the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring the safe return of Nigerians affected by the violence.