A Nigerian returnee from South Africa, Itoro Victor Richard, has recounted how rising anti-immigration tensions forced him to abandon years of investment, including his car business and home, as he fled for safety.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Monday, July 6, 2026, Richard said he owned two vehicles and was paying the mortgage on his house before the security situation deteriorated.
“Because I sell cars, I had two vehicles and a house—I had been paying the mortgage for about two years. One was vandalized, and the other I had to sell cheaply,” he said.
Richard explained that he sold one vehicle at a reduced price after the other was vandalized, describing the losses as necessary to protect his family. He said he arranged for his children to stay with their in-laws and relocated his wife to a different apartment, keeping the location secret for her safety.
The returnee said leaving behind his investments was painful but unavoidable, stressing that preserving his life took priority over protecting his property. He added that the experience reflects the financial losses many Nigerians have suffered while fleeing insecurity in South Africa.
