Some 319 persons have departed South Africa for Nigeria abroad an Air Peace aeroplane on Wednesday.

The 319 are the second batch of Nigerians being repatriated back to the country over xenophobic attacks.

They left the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 2:58p.m.

An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebenfa, confirmed the development.

He said,

“We wish to inform you that the second batch of about 319 willing Nigerian returnees from South Africa has departed O. R. Tambo International Airport Johannesburg, South Africa, today at 14h58 local time.

“The returnees, who were airlifted by Air Peace Airline are expected to arrive Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, today at about 18h58 local time.”

The first flight had brought back 187 Nigerians out of the 313 scheduled for the evacuation last Wednesday, following the xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in SA.

The Consul-General, Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, Godwin Adama, had disclosed that the number of registered Nigerians had risen to 1,004, adding that the technical issues faced during the first evacuation were being addressed.

817 Nigerians were awaiting evacuation.