The first group of Nigerians returned home from South Africa on Thursday as part of repatriation ordered by the government following violent anti-immigration protests.

A total of 262 passengers and three officials were on board the flight to Lagos, according to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry earlier said over 1,000 Nigerians have registered for voluntary return.

Authorities in South Africa said the returnees were found to be in the country illegally, contradicting Nigerian officials that they were fleeing xenophobic attacks.

Nigeria is the latest African nation to organize such evacuation flights from South Africa. Since April, a series of anti-immigration protests have led to attacks against some foreigners. The protests highlight tensions between foreign workers and locals who claim foreigners are taking their jobs. South African officials have condemned them as xenophobic acts.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the president ordered the “evacuation of imperilled Nigerian citizens who consider their lives at risk by continued stay in South Africa.”

“The price of your peace and the safety of your children is not worth any sacrifices you have to make or any assets you have to leave behind when fleeing a conflict zone or hate-infested environment,” the minister said in a message to those returning.

Humanitarian Affairs Minister Bernard Doro criticised the treatment of Nigerians, who he said were “living in South Africa legally.”

“If there were issues of illegality – that would be determined on a person-to-person basis. You can’t just crown the entire Nigeria popultion living in South Africa as living there illegally,” Doro said.

Some returnees said they didn’t have proper documentation in South Africa. And some said they had not been able to renew their residency papers for years because of immigration bottlenecks they say were imposed on Nigerians by South African authorities.

“I was in South Africa for 11 years, and I was treated badly. They did not give us (Nigerians) residency permits because we were Nigerians,” Eminaba Beatrice said.

The evacuation by Nigeria follows Ghana’s repatriation of about 1,000 nationals from South Africa. Officials in South Africa said that most of the Ghanaians who returned home were undocumented.

Liberia has also expressed concerns over the safety of its citizens in South Africa. Local media have quoted President Joseph Boakai as saying that the government will take any necessary steps, including facilitating similar returns to Liberia.

According to South Africa’s Home Affairs Department, 586 Nigerians were processed for repatriation after they were found to be undocumented. It said the next group is due to leave on Monday.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said they were issued emergency travel documents by the Nigerian High Commission.

He also said they were declared “undesirable persons” and prohibited from re-entering South Africa for five years.

“Foreign nationals must ensure that their immigration status remains compliant with South African immigration laws at all times and to regularize their stay,” he said.

• An AP report s