I’ve To Leave When I Saw The Zulu Guys Have Begun Their Parade, I Don’t Want To Lose My Life- South African Returnee

A Nigerian woman who recently returned from South Africa has explained that fears for her safety prompted her decision to leave the country, saying she no longer felt secure after witnessing activities she associated with rising tensions.

Speaking with ARISE News Digital Journalist Joseph Jegede upon her arrival in Nigeria, the returnee expressed relief at being back home, describing Nigeria as the safest place for her despite the challenges facing the country.

“I am very happy to return to Nigeria. No place like home. I decided to come back because of my life. I do not want to lose my life in South Africa. South Africa is not a place to stay,” she said.

When asked at what point she began to fear for her safety, the returnee pointed to the public activities of groups she identified as Zulu men, saying their marches made her believe the situation could deteriorate.

“At what point did South Africa become scary to you?” she was asked.

“When the Zulu guys began their parade, their march and match, I was scared. I don’t want to lose my life, so I had to leave,” she responded.

The woman did not provide further details about any direct threats against her but maintained that concerns over her personal safety were enough to convince her to return to Nigeria.

Her remarks come amid the arrival of several Nigerians who have voluntarily returned from South Africa, with many citing security concerns, uncertainty and fears over xenophobic violence as reasons for ending their stay in the country.

The returnee’s comments have added to the ongoing conversation about the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly during periods of heightened tension and anti-immigrant sentiment.