Another 33 Nigerian nationals have been evacuated from South Africa following continued incidents of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in the country.

The returnees are from Delta, Ogun, Imo, Lagos, Enugu, Oyo, Edo, Ondo and Bayelsa states.

The latest evacuation comes amid concerns over the security of Nigerians in South Africa, with two Nigerian citizens, James Uchechukwu Nwankwo and Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, reportedly killed in the country this month.

The Nigerian Government has condemned the killings and called on the South African authorities to investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice.

The government also disclosed that the National Assembly had suspended official visits to South Africa and boycotted legislative activities hosted by the country.

Of the 33 Nigerians evacuated, the Private Group of Business Friends, PGNBF, funded the repatriation of 26 returnees.

The group had previously funded the evacuation of 83 Nigerians and another 67 from South Africa. With the latest 26 returnees, the organisation has now funded the repatriation of 176 Nigerian nationals from the country.

The Nigerian Lawyers Association of South Africa, NLASA, also funded the return of five of the evacuees, while a private citizen from Bayelsa State sponsored the repatriation of three Bayelsa indigenes.

The Igbo Lawyers Association South Africa, ILASA, was also commended for recently funding the repatriation of 28 Nigerian nationals from South Africa.

The government expressed appreciation to the organisations and individuals who had supported the evacuation efforts.

“On behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we extend our immense gratitude to these public-spirited groups and private individuals for coming to the aid of their imperiled compatriots,” the statement said.

The government also urged state governments that had yet to participate in the repatriation efforts to complement the Federal Government’s intervention by assisting their indigenes who had been forced to leave South Africa.

It noted that some of the returnees had abandoned their properties, businesses and livelihoods amid the security concerns.

The government, however, commended the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for his intervention in supporting returnees from the state.

Mbah on Thursday hosted a reception for 77 Enugu State families comprising 112 indigenes who had returned from South Africa.

The governor reportedly gave N1m to each of the 77 families to support their resettlement.

Addressing the returnees, Mbah encouraged them to rebuild their lives despite the circumstances that forced them to return home.

“Don’t be afraid to start again,” the governor told the returnees.