Church in Nigeria donates $265,000 to evacuate 500 citizens from South Africa
In Nigeria, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) donated $265,854 to the federal government for the repatriation of 500 citizens of the country from the Republic of South Africa. The funds are intended to pay for 500 one-way air tickets for Nigerians affected by xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the donation on Thursday. At the exchange rate cited by the publication of 1,324 Nigerian naira per dollar, the amount is about 352 million naira.
Tickets for evacuation
According to the ministry, the donation was made by RCCG, which is led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye. The ministry described the contribution as an expression of compassion, solidarity and support for Nigerians who found themselves in difficult circumstances. It also said it expects to cooperate with the church’s leadership in South Africa during the evacuation of 500 people.
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Since the start of a new wave of xenophobic violence in April, approximately 1,640 Nigerian citizens have been evacuated from South Africa, according to the publication. Last week, 67 people were repatriated as part of this campaign. Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe have also repatriated their citizens from South Africa.
Data on the dead
Premium Times Nigeria reports that at least five Nigerians have been killed since the violence began: Chika Simon, Amaramiro Emmanuel, Ekpenyong Andrew, Emeka Iroegbu and Musa Joe. According to the publication, the Nigerian consulate said that Chika Simon died under suspicious circumstances after an incident involving the South African Police Service.
The publication also wrote that investigations into these deaths were ongoing and that there had been no arrests in the relevant cases in recent months.
