The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa, describing the experiences of recently evacuated citizens as painful and unacceptable.

Speaking on a television programme following the arrival of the first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, Dabiri-Erewa said the returnees committed no crime and appeared to have been targeted solely because they were black migrants.

She faulted what she described as the failure to distinguish between individuals who may have committed offences and innocent migrants, insisting that no group should be collectively punished for the actions of a few people.

The NiDCOM boss said Nigeria was continuing diplomatic engagements with South African authorities and noted that the Federal Government would determine any further action through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency.

According to her, more batches of Nigerians are expected to return home in the coming days as evacuation efforts continue.

Some of the returnees alleged they suffered discrimination, segregation and degrading treatment while in South Africa. One evacuee claimed migrant families were treated like slaves and that their children were separated from others.

The development has renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where foreign nationals from several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, have faced repeated hostility over the years.

Nigeria has consistently condemned such attacks and called on South African authorities to take stronger measures to protect African migrants living in the country.