Nigerians who just returned from South Africa after suffering xenophobic attacks have recounted their ordeal, which made them decide to leave after spending years in the country.

Speaking with newsmen after disembarking from an Air Peace aircraft in Lagos, the returnees described hell and expressed joy at making it back to Nigeria in one piece.

John Okeke from Anambra State, who was based in Johannesburg, expressed joy at being back after what he experienced in South Africa.

"A lot of those that went through this (evacuation) process with us couldn't make it. Some passed away yesterday. Two were killed yesterday. So I'm really happy to be back with my life. I had been in South Africa for over seven years, since February 35, 2019. My passport is valid"

He narrated the threats he faced while in South Africa, saying, "Even where I was staying, you couldn't sleep with two eyes closed. While walking on the streets, you had to keep checking your back. The police used the situation as business, because even when you show them your document, they still demand money from you. There were many threats, and the government was not doing anything about them. A man who went through this evacuation process couldn't make it. They were hitting him with a stick on the face, and he passed away. At the Nigerian Embassy, one guy was robbed, and the policemen couldn't do anything."

Another man, who didn't disclose his name, said, "Right now, I'm relieved that I'm back home because I've spent about 14 years in South Africa. I'm happy, relieved, and safe, too. Back home here. What happened to me in South Africa is terrible. I can't explain everything. The first attack I had from South Africans was about nine years ago. They destroyed my shop; they burnt my properties. I had to start over again. After five years, they still came back and burned everything down. They really attacked me and beat me up. I had to run for my life by changing the province I was staying. They said we Nigerians must go back."

Another man said, "I lost money, I lost property, I lost my wife and son over there. I swear to God, South Africa is not a country. South Africa is a zoo. I lost my son, a three-year-old. Today is his birthday, and they chased us. South Africa will never see forgiveness in this world. They will lack everything."

One Emmanuella Cardoso said, "I went to South Africa thinking I was going to make money. That place is no place to go. It is not safe. We faced a lot of difficulties because we Nigerians are very hardworking, but they (South Africans) are very lazy. They think Nigerians are taking their jobs and their wives. They started shouting 'March, March, and Amba,' meaning 'leave my country.' So, we were not safe. Even when we were sleeping, our eyes were not closed because we were scared, and so we had to just come back home."

Samuel, who previously worked with MTN Customer Service, recounted how he ended up in South Africa.

"An opportunity came there to work with another SIM card company, so I decided to have another level of experience, so I went there. When you are in an environment where you feel your life and property are no longer safe, I think the best thing to do is leave that environment. I was based in Cape Town, but in some places, the attacks were getting hotter. All these people know where foreigners are. By the time they speak their language to you and you are unable to respond, they know you are a foreigner. Even looking at you, they know you are a foreigner. They give themselves tips. They can just go to a place, drag you out and start insulting you, saying, 'Go back home. We are going to kill you. ' That's why I found myself here."