Xenophobia: How A Nigerian Father Abondoned His Child in South Africa

Many have started to narrate gloomy details of their experiences in the hands of South Africans. Not many of the returnees could have desired to come home now, however, leaving everything is worth the risk based on their ordeals at the height of recent Xenophobic attacks.

One of the South Africa returnees who identified himself as Uchenbi could not hide his emotions as he narrated gory details about the hostility South Africans harbor towards Nigerians. According to him, South Africans are angry at Nigerians for no reason and would blame them for whatever reason they deem fit.

Uchenbi, who has been in South Africa since 2007, said they destroyed his properties and rendered him jobless with the most recent xenophobic attack. The enraged man said he had to leave the country as soon as the opportunity came for him and the over one hundred people who returned home via the Air Peace flight.

The emotional man said he left his baby while she was sleeping as he had to run for dear life. He said that he took that decision as he could do a lot for his family with him being alive; he envisioned that his wife who is not a Nigerian will suffer there if he got killed in the madness.

Uchenbi said he was bleeding in his heart as he spoke; he appreciated the Nigerian consulate general who made their return possible with his effort. The South Africa returnee also mentioned that a fight almost broke out at the South African airport as they were being pushed here and there with their passports. He said they did not want to let them go despite the harsh way they were being treated.

This was his explanation for their late arrival as they landed in Nigeria later than expected. He lamented that the country left him wrecked as he has nothing to show for his many years of stay. As he spoke, more Nigerians came down from the plane. Some were seen with children as they walked past Uchenbi who had many reporters gathered around him.

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