The federal government’s fourth evacuation flight from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Air Peace flight arrived last night with 282 returnees. This brings the total number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa since the evacuation flights began on June 11 to 1,141.

Over 1,000 Nigerians were said to have indicated interest to return.

Last week, ahead of Thursday’s flight arrival, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs, asked Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to return home.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s call came as two more Nigerians were reported dead in South Africa, bringing the official death toll of Nigerian citizens in the country since the xenophobic violence started to four. Some repatriated Nigerians have alleged that the figures are higher.

South African rights groups had set an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country, but repatriation flights have continued.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu assured that the federal government would ensure that no citizen who expressed interest to return home would be left behind.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, foreign ministry spokesperson, said the fifth flight will arrive in Nigeria next week.

It would be the government’s final flight.

Travellers in the United States who require Nigerian visas will now submit their applications directly to the Nigerian embassy and consulates after the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) disengaged its third-party visa application service provider.

Previously, Online Integrated Solution (OIS SERVICES) functioned as the operator of Nigeria’s visa application and submission centres in the US.

However, a statement issued Thursday by Akinsola Akinlabi, NIS public relations officer, said the operator has been disengaged effective immediately. Akinlabi did not state why.

“Travellers seeking Nigerian visas are now required to submit their applications directly at the embassy of Nigeria in Washington, DC, or at the consulates of Nigeria in New York and Atlanta until further notice,” Akinlabi said.

He conveyed the NIS’ assurance that the embassy and consulates have put adequate measures in place to ensure seamless submission, processing, and issuance of visas.

The immigration official noted that applicants are further advised to monitor the official communication channels of the NIS and the Nigerian mission in the US for updates on visa application procedures.

He added that the NIS remains committed to providing efficient service delivery.

The United States has announced an updated deportation list featuring 124 Nigerians.

This was disclosed in a statement on the website of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday.

The DHS claimed that these individuals have been placed on what it described as its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register.

While the names and photos have been made public, the timeline for deportations remains undisclosed.

However, the US immigration authorities explained that the deportations are part of ongoing immigration enforcement, stressing that those listed were convicted of serious crimes, but declined to provide details about the offences or when deportations would take place.

The statement read, “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here.”

The website then listed, “Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, Marcus Unigwe, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba.”

Others are Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla, Christian Ogunghide, Christopher Ojuma, Olamide Adedipe, Patrick Onogwu, Olajide Olateru-Olagbegi and Omotayo Akinto.

“Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Ayibatonye Bienzigha, Uche Diuno, Akinwale Adaramaja, Boluwatife Afolabi, Chinonso Ochie, Olayinka A. Jones, Theophilus Anwana, Aishatu Umaru, Henry Idiagbonya, Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Daro Kosin, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Ifeanyi Echigeme, Kingsley Ibhadore, Suraj Tairu, Peter Equere, Dasola Abdulraheem, Adewale Aladekoba and Akeem Adeleke.

“Bernard Ogie Oretekor, Abiemwense Obanor, Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola, Chukwuemeka Okorie, Abimbola Esan, Elizabeth Miller, Chima Orji, Adetunji Olofinlade, Abdul Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adeshewo, Dennis Ofuoma, Quazeem Adeyinka, Ifeanyi Okoro, Oluwaseun Kassim, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, Abraham Ola Osoko, Oluchi Jennifer and Chibuzo Nwaonu.”

The latest action is part of the sweeping immigration enforcement measures introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump after his return to office on January 20, 2025.

On his first day back in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to intensify border security and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants.

One of the orders, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed immigration authorities to prioritise the arrest and deportation of removable migrants, particularly those considered threats to public safety and national security.

Defending the policy, the DHS said the administration was delivering on Trump’s campaign promise to carry out mass deportations, beginning with what it described as the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders.

The department said officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been directed to intensify operations nationwide against non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also defended the crackdown, saying the administration remained committed to enforcing immigration laws and removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records in line with President Trump’s immigration agenda.

Official US immigration data indicate that Guatemala has recorded the highest number of deportees since the renewed crackdown began, followed by Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador, reflecting the administration’s focus on migrants from Latin America.

The US has also expanded deportation flights to countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean as enforcement operations continue.

Nigeria has also come under increased scrutiny by the Trump administration. In June, Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening.

See pictures and offences of the victims below: