‘God has given us another chance’ – Nigerian returnees narrate South Africa ordeal

By Esther Onyegbula

For Eze Pauline Ijeoma, stepping onto Nigerian soil was more than a homecoming. It was a return to a place where she hoped she could finally live and work without fear.

After years in South Africa, where she said xenophobic attacks, police detentions and difficulties running her food business had made life increasingly difficult, Ijeoma was among 105 Nigerians who returned to the country in the second batch sponsored by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG.

“I would say that we are so grateful and we are so happy to be home because there is no place like home,” the Imo State indigene said.

“No more xenophobic, no more attack, no more police, no more problems. No more killings. So, we are so happy.”

Ijeoma’s relief, however, came against the backdrop of painful experiences she said she endured during her stay in South Africa.

‘I left in 2013’

“I left Nigeria in 2013, went home and came back again in 2023. It wasn’t like that before. But silently, they always do it. This period, it was so hard,” she said.

According to her, the situation affected her ability to earn a living as a food seller, as she became apprehensive about going out to conduct her business.

“I don’t go to business because every time you go to business, you come back with your food. I’m a food seller,” she said.

“So, it is very horrible for now. I don’t sell because anytime you go out, police will arrest you. And you sell it inside the cell.”

She also recounted the emotional burden of witnessing Nigerians lose their lives and the difficulties she said she faced during encounters with the police.

“Because seeing our brothers dying every time. Every time, police will arrest you for doing nothing. Even going to business is a problem,” she said.

Ijeoma, who disclosed that her husband died in South Africa, said she took to food vending as a means of survival but alleged that police harassment made it increasingly difficult to operate.

“My husband passed away in South Africa. It was not easy, that’s why I started selling food,” she said.

“Every time police will detain, asking for your papers or whatever. Even if your papers are complete, they will still fine you, fine one thing or the other to ask you, in order to extort money from you.”

For her, the return to Nigeria has therefore brought a renewed sense of hope.

“We are so happy that we are alive to come back. We are so grateful to God and the people who made it possible for us to be among the people,” she said.

‘Rescue’

Another returnee, Chukwuma Augustine Ayoka, also from Imo State, described the return as a rescue after what he said was a difficult period for Nigerians in South Africa.

“I’m so excited. I give all glory to God for them to come to our rescue,” Ayoka said.

He expressed appreciation to RCCG for sponsoring the return of Nigerians, including families, children and individuals.

“Lifting 500 people, including fathers, mothers, children and single ones from South Africa under xenophobic attack, afrophobic attack, it’s not easy. So it’s only by the grace of God,” he said.

According to Ayoka, the situation had affected businesses and the ability of some Nigerians to move freely.

“Although it was not a war zone, but with the case of xenophobia attack, afrophobic attack, with the killings, we have no other choice than to come back,” he said.

“They close our businesses, destroy our businesses, loot our businesses. Life became terrible. You can’t even get out of your house. So we have no other choice than to seek for rescue.”

RCCG

Ayoka, who said he returned alone, added: “Redeem came to our rescue and at the end of the day, we are here through the grace of God and through the help of RCCG.”

The Chairman, RCCG Task Force for the Reception of Nigerian Returnees from South Africa, Pastor Belemina Obunge, said the church’s intervention followed a “Save Our Soul” appeal from Nigerians in South Africa.

Obunge said the intervention was approved by the church’s General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, after the plight of Nigerians stranded in South Africa came to the attention of the church.

He said the initiative was designed as a humanitarian contribution to the efforts of the Federal Government to bring Nigerians in distress back home.

“Basically, there was a Save Our Soul clarion cry by Nigerians in South Africa. It was echoed by the High Commission in South Africa. It got to the ears of our Heavenly Lord, the General Overseer, and he, being who he is with a heart of compassion, had determined that the church should intervene,” Obunge said.

He explained that the church resolved to sponsor the airlifting of 500 Nigerians from South Africa.

“By the grace of God, the first set of 100 had been brought in. This second set of 105 is now being brought in,” he said.

According to him, three more batches are expected to arrive as the process continues.

Obunge said the returnees should see their arrival in Nigeria as a new beginning rather than the end of their journey.

“What we are telling them, they are not forgotten. They should realise that this is a new beginning. God has a plan for them. They should connect with God,” he said.

He also encouraged the returnees to deploy the skills and experience they acquired abroad in rebuilding their lives in Nigeria.

“Once they begin to take advantage of the skills, the talents, and what they’ve learned over the years and put it in practice here in Nigeria, one thing is clear, the best is yet to come,” he said.

Obunge stressed that the humanitarian intervention was not restricted to members of RCCG.

He said the returnees were selected regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.

“Our national anthem says, ‘no tribe and tongue may differ. In brotherhood we stand.’ We believe in that anthem,” he said.

“Those being brought are of different tribes, different tongues, different religions. Definitely, they are not all members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. In fact, we don’t even know if any of them is a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

“They are wonderful, glorious, spectacular Nigerians, and by the grace of God, they are part of those that we have an assignment towards.”

The returnees

Obunge said the latest batch comprised 55 adults, 45 children and five infants, bringing the number already brought back under the RCCG initiative to 205.

He said the church expected to receive about 295 to 300 more Nigerians, subject to the completion of the required processes by the Nigerian High Commission and South African authorities.

According to him, the returnees are profiled by the Nigerian High Commission before the relevant South African authorities complete their procedures for their return.

A representative of the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos Operations Office, said NEMA and other government stakeholders had been involved in receiving Nigerians returning from South Africa.

The official described the RCCG intervention as a complement to the Federal Government’s efforts.

“This is the second batch of returnees being sponsored by the Redeemed Christian Church of God,” the official said.

“As you are aware, NEMA and other stakeholders have been in the forefront representing the Federal Government, receiving Nigerian returnees from South Africa. And the RCCG has come to also complement the effort of the Federal Government.”

The official explained that the returnees’ details were being documented to facilitate possible government assistance and follow-up.

“If you observe from the arrival from South Africa, part of this process is to have their details, by registering them, getting their names and contacts and their other details. And this is for further assistance going to the extended later,” the official said.

The official added that the information would help the government contact the returnees when necessary and provide further assistance.

NEMA, according to the official, would also facilitate the transportation of the returnees to their respective states to enable them reunite with their families.

For Ijeoma, the journey home represents an opportunity to begin again after years of uncertainty.

“My expectation, by the grace of God, is that God will help us the way He has been with us, protecting us. If we can survive there, in our own homes, we will make more, by the special grace of God,” she said.

Vanguard News

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