Nigerians deported from Saudi Arabia following Social Media Video

Hundreds of Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia without work or residency permits have been deported, following several migrants having posted a video on social media about their squalid conditions, and asking for help.

The BBC reports that 384 people were flown from Riyadh on Thursday to Abuja, Nigeria, with a second flight to take place tomorrow. The number included 300 men, 83 women and one infant.

Meanwhile, more than 800 people are expected to be returned to Nigeria.

According to the BBC some of the Nigerian nationals to be returned regretted travelling to the Kingdom, saying they were kept for months in extremely crowded shelters without proper food, sanitation and hygiene. They said these circumstances had resulted in illness and even deaths. Further, many had been stranded in the Kingdom by the coronavirus lockdown, but finding nothing more menial employment to sustain themselves.

Umm Muhammed Umar

The Weakened Judiciary

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 21 May 2026 3-minute read While South Africa grapples with serious allegations of corruption, the Madlanga Commission, and criminal charges involving senior figures in law enforcement, the weakened judiciary has come under...

Middle East Report

22 May 2026 | 11:17 CAT 4-minute read Iran holds firm Iran’s most recent map of the Strait of Hormuz, released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), declares expanded control over more than 22 000 of maritime space, advancing into the territorial waters of...

Ratepayers warn of boycott over proposed eThekwini tariff hikes

21 May 2026 | 12:57 CAT 2-minute read Frustration over proposed tariff increases and ongoing service delivery concerns spilled onto the streets of Durban as ratepayers and civic organisations marched to City Hall in protest against eThekwini Municipality’s draft...

The Asia Pacific Report

21 May 2026 | 11:40 CAT 1-minute read The plight of the Rohingya remains one of the world’s longest-running humanitarian crises, with growing concerns over safety, accountability and the future of millions of displaced people. Speaking on Radio Islam International’s...

The Africa Report

19 May 2026 | 11:46 CAT 4-minute read Digital fraud crisis in Africa Africa is experiencing a rapidly accelerating digital fraud crisis as cybercriminals exploit the continent's booming mobile connectivity. Driven by AI tools, deepfakes, and social engineering, fraud...

Middle East Report

15 May 2026 | 11:45 CAT 3-minute read Strait of Hormuz: a competition of endurance The 2026 conflict in the Strait of Hormuz has devolved into a high-stakes war of attrition between the United States and Iran, marked by a collapsed, fragile ceasefire and persistent...