Nigerian man escapes South Africa after xenophobic attacks, leaves daughters behind

A Nigerian man, Okafor Ugochukwu, has shared how he fled South Africa without his two daughters. He survived three xenophobic attacks that wrecked his businesses, left him homeless, and forced him to abandon his life after over a decade there.

Ugochukwu is from Anambra State. He talked about his experience in an interview with Vanguard on Tuesday. He left Nigeria in 2014 to find better opportunities and spent nearly ten years living and working in South Africa.

His journey began in Tanzania and Mozambique before he finally settled in Johannesburg. There, he built his life as a businessman.

After arriving in South Africa, he started a clothing business and gradually became stable financially. "I’ve been there like 10 years. I left Nigeria in 2014 because I wanted to travel. I have been to Tanzania, I have been to Mozambique, but I spent my good 10 years in South Africa. I was doing business there. I had a boutique where I sold clothes," he said.

Ugochukwu revealed that he planned to return to Nigeria in 2017 after buying a flight ticket. But immigration issues with his passport stopped him from traveling. After his ticket expired, he used the remaining money to grow his business in South Africa.

"I bought my ticket in 2017 because I wanted to return home, but I was denied because of issues with my passport. The ticket expired, so I used the little money I had left to start another business," he said.

His dreams took a hit in 2018 when his business was destroyed in a xenophobic attack against foreigners. Family members in Nigeria sent him money, which helped him start a new business selling earphones, hair products, and other items.

He worked hard to rebuild his life until another wave of xenophobic attacks hit, destroying his shop again. "They came to my place. They burnt my place and destroyed my business. I lost everything. I had no choice but to run because my life is very important," he said.

Ugochukwu called the latest attack the final straw that made him leave South Africa for Nigeria. He escaped with nothing, leaving behind his home, business, and personal belongings.

"I left my place without anything. I left broke. My house and everything were destroyed. I’m stranded. I’m homeless. I’m down," he lamented.

He also mentioned that his two daughters are still in South Africa. Leaving them was one of the toughest choices he had to make. "I do have two girls back there. I’m so sorry and disappointed," he said.

After fleeing the attacks, he found shelter at the Nigerian Consulate in Pretoria. He stayed there for several days until arrangements were made for him to return to Nigeria.

He thanked the Nigerian government for helping him come back, expressing gratitude for being alive despite losing everything. "Thank God for our President for making it possible for us to return to Nigeria because when there is life, there is hope," he said.

Ugochukwu pointed out that many South Africans wrongly think Nigerians and other foreigners are to blame for unemployment and crime in their country. "The only thing they tell us is that we are taking their jobs and taking their women. But I don’t understand that because most Nigerians there have their own businesses. We have our own shops. We are there to survive," he said.

He also dismissed the stereotype that Nigerians in South Africa are involved in drugs or crime. "Sometimes they think everybody is a drug dealer or involved in illegal things. But no, we are all there to survive and make an honest living," he added.

Describing life in South Africa, Ugochukwu said daily life for foreigners feels like living in a war zone. "Staying in South Africa is like a war zone. When your fellow blacks see you as a threat and keep telling you to go back to your country, life becomes very difficult," he said.

He called for government support to help returnees rebuild their lives. He remains hopeful that he will recover from his losses. "I’m back in Nigeria to start my life again. I just hope and pray that the government will assist us in one way or another so we can get back on our feet. Even though I lost everything, I’m happy to be back home because when there is life, there is hope," he said.