The Federal Government has evacuated another batch of distressed Nigerians from South Africa as fresh concerns over the safety of foreign nationals emerged following two mass shootings that left at least 27 people dead in the country.
The latest development comes after gunmen killed 17 people at a bar west of Johannesburg on Saturday night and another 10 people at an entertainment venue in a township outside Cape Town early Sunday. Police said 26 others were wounded in the two separate attacks.
In the Johannesburg incident, eight gunmen armed with assault rifles reportedly stormed a bar at about 7:30 p.m., opened fire on customers outside before moving inside and continuing the attack. The victims included 13 men and four women.
In the separate Cape Town shooting, 10 people were killed and 11 others injured. Police said five victims died at the scene, while the others died while being taken to hospital. No arrests had been made in either incident at the time of the report, while the motive for the attacks remained unknown.
The shootings occurred against the backdrop of months of security concerns and xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
The Nigerian government has previously evacuated more than 1,400 citizens from South Africa under its voluntary repatriation programme following the attacks. In the latest confirmed evacuation, 105 Nigerians — comprising 82 adults and 23 children — arrived in Lagos on September 24, bringing the exercise to its 13th consular evacuation since it began on June 10.
The Federal Government had earlier said the evacuation programme was intended to assist Nigerians who voluntarily chose to return home amid concerns over their safety. Nigeria has also urged South African authorities to take concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals.
The latest mass shootings have renewed attention on South Africa’s persistent gun violence. Police say the country records about 60 murders daily, while authorities have repeatedly deployed security forces to areas affected by serious violence.