In brief
Richard Itoro, a Nigerian businessman who had built a life in Johannesburg, left his wife and twin children in South Africa when anti‑migrant protests intensified. He boarded a voluntary repatriation flight in June, fearing for his safety and that of his family. The move reflects a broader exodus of tens of thousands of foreign nationals amid escalating tensions. While Itoro’s legal status was initially acknowledged, he faced harassment and intimidation from neighbours and anti‑immigrant groups. He hopes to rebuild in Nigeria, yet remains emotionally tied to his lost life in South Africa, underscoring the complex human cost of migration disputes.
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Richard Itoro, 47, a former car dealer with a bustling Johannesburg business, boarded a voluntary repatriation flight to Nigeria in June, leaving behind his wife and twins. He cites growing hostility in the city as the trigger for his departure.
Over the past two months, thousands of foreign nationals have left South Africa when anti‑migrant protests erupted across major cities, creating diplomatic friction with several African states. The protests are driven by groups that claim they are protecting jobs and security for South Africans, and they have called for the removal of undocumented migrants.
Itoro recalls the emotional shock when neighbours told his wife that “if you are married to a Nigerian, you ought to leave”. He stood in a city he used to know for fifteen years, owning a car dealership, a home, and a tranquil family life, and now finds himself a refugee in his own country.
The Nigerian High Commission denied that Itoro could bring his wife and children on the flight, citing diplomatic guidelines. He has been unable to sign the necessary paperwork, and the situation has stranded his family in a city where they fear violence.
“It felt like a movie where the last aircraft leaves from a besieged city”, he said. He hopes to reconnect with his family, who now rely on regular phone calls, while he attempts to re‑establish a business back home.
The story is not isolated. A Ghanaian hairdresser, Emmanuel Asamoah, was harassed by South African protestors demanding he leave the country, despite possessing legal documents. He returned to Ghana and now runs a cement business, yet remains wary of the broader migrant situation in South Africa.
South Africa’s officials have admitted the country has a high unemployment rate and that migration pressures are a factor. Minister Gayton McKenzie insists that only those with legitimate papers may stay, while the foreign minister of Nigeria has warned of widespread attacks on Nigerians who possess valid visas.
In Lagos, Itoro continues to feel the emotional toll of his displacement. "I talk with my wife every day, but it’s heartbreaking to feel that I’ve lost everything," he says, hoping for a future chance to re‑enter South Africa once conditions change.
Additional reporting by Abayomi Adisa
