The Federal Government has announced it has concluded arrangements for the final evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa, with 315 returnees expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday on an Air Peace flight.

It was reports that the government had earlier conducted four evacuation flights, bringing home hundreds of Nigerians as part of efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, in a statement signed and issued on Tuesday, disclosed that the final evacuation flight is scheduled to depart Johannesburg at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 6:30 a.m.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they may be and expressed appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the evacuation exercise.

The Air Peace-operated flight marks the conclusion of the Federal Government’s evacuation of Nigerians who indicated interest in returning home following the recent xenophobic attacks and security concerns in parts of South Africa.

Recall that the sixth batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, last Friday night, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,174.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

According to the commission, the latest batch comprised 40 Nigerians who arrived aboard a chartered flight.

NIDCOM said the evacuation exercise involved four Air Peace flights, which conveyed 258, 266, 262 and 282 returnees respectively, while a ValueJet flight brought back 66 Nigerians.

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The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, on Monday, July 13, recounted the traumatic 56-day ordeal she and other abd#cted teachers and pupils endured in captivity, saying the k!dnappers deliberately k!lled two of their colleagues to pressure the government while leaving the survivors with lasting emotional scars.

Folawe spoke during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army.

The principal said the abductors repeatedly used fear and psychological intimidation to weaken the captives, telling them that the government had abandoned them and no longer cared about their fate.

“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us. At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive,” she recalled. Nigerianbusiness insights

She revealed that the kidnappers executed two of her colleagues in an attempt to force the government’s hand.

“Mr. Michael was k!lled on the second day, while Deacon was k!lled on the first Sunday in June. They k!lled them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted.

It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal,” she said

She expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies involved in the rescue operation and Nigerians whose prayers and support sustained hope throughout their captivity.

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An inquest into the tragic d3ath of a 27-year-old Nigerian mother-of-one in the United Kingdom has found she took her life.

Beatrice Solomon was found unresponsive at her home on Norris Road, Stanfield, Stoke-on-Trent, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Beatrice’s husband – 40-year-old Damian Michael Butler, left for work at his delivery job at around 4.30pm before returning just two hours later to use the toilet. He then made the heart-breaking discovery, UK publications reported on July 12.

PC Hinchliffe told the inquest that paramedics arrived shortly afterwards but Beatrice was sadly declared d3ad at the scene at 6.21pm.

Officers ruled out any third-party involvement.

Damian told the inquest that Beatrice had been suffering with her mental health for the past 12 months due to ongoing issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Damian added he later learned she had made two previous attempts on her life.

Pathologist Dr Jones ruled she d!ed from oxygen deprivation.

Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Beatrice d!ed as a result of su!cide.

“It is clear to me that Beatrice had researched and planned how to take her own life. I can only extend my sincere condolences to Beatrice’s family and friends,” she said.

Beatrice, a carer, arrived in Stoke-on-Trent from Nigeria in November 2023.

She leaves behind a son, as well as her siblings.

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