Amid renewed xenophobic attacks and rising anti-immigration tensions in South Africa, **Air Peace> has completed the evacuation of 801 stranded Nigerians in a series of humanitarian flights coordinated with the Federal Government.
The three airlift operations, conducted over the past month, culminated on Thursday with the evacuation of 268 Nigerians aboard the airline’s Boeing 777-200 aircraft, marking the largest phase of the emergency repatriation exercise.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the airline’s spokesman, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, said the latest evacuation followed two earlier missions that returned 262 Nigerians on June 11 and another 271 on June 30.
According to the airline, the operations were launched in response to growing security concerns arising from xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments that have affected Nigerians living in South Africa.
Air Peace described the missions as part of its continuing partnership with the Federal Government to protect Nigerian citizens caught in emergencies abroad.
The airline said deploying its long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft for the exercise demonstrated its operational readiness to support national humanitarian interventions beyond its commercial services.
It added that the successful completion of the three missions underscores its commitment to reconnecting distressed Nigerians with their families while providing emergency assistance during periods of uncertainty.
Air Peace also highlighted its growing role in humanitarian operations, noting that it has undertaken more than 16 evacuation and relief missions across Africa and other parts of the world since it commenced operations.
The carrier reaffirmed its readiness to support future emergency evacuations and other national interventions, insisting that it remains committed to assisting Nigerians whenever crises arise.
The latest airlift comes as concerns persist over the safety and welfare of foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, where periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence have repeatedly forced governments to organise emergency evacuations for their citizens.