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Hundreds of Nigerians to take free evacuation from South Africa
Scrap metal collectors prepare to transport a shell of a car after it was burnt during xenophobic attacks that took place earlier this week in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 5, 2019. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
10/09/2019
ABUJA (Reuters) - At least 640 Nigerians have signed up to take free flights home from South Africa after xenophobic attacks on foreigners, a spokeswoman for Nigeria's president said on Tuesday.
Private Nigerian airline Air Peace plans to operate two flights with Boeing 777 aircraft, the first leaving Lagos late on Tuesday to return on Wednesday with evacuees.
The plane can carry roughly 300 passengers.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians wanting to return home, and Air Peace offered free flights last week.
In the latest of periodic xenophobic violence in South Africa, deadly riots last week in Pretoria and Johannesburg killed at least 10 people including two foreigners, and targeted foreign-owned businesses.
Retaliatory attacks in Nigeria forced South African businesses to shut doors for several days, and South Africa temporarily closed its embassy on safety fears.
Buhari will visit South Africa next month to address the attacks and seek a solution.
(Reporting By Felix Onuah in Abuja; Additional reporting by Libby George in Lagos; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
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