Johannesburg, South Africa – Three Nigerian nationals were deported from South Africa on Sunday, April 5, 2026, after being denied entry at O. R. Tambo International Airport. Officials cited the travellers’ use of Airbnb accommodation instead of registered hotels as the main issue, despite the travellers holding valid visas and travel documents.
One of the deported travellers, media personality Yemi, said he and the others were unlawfully detained. He claimed immigration officers singled them out, seized his phone, and initially refused to allow them to book an immediate return flight. Yemi said he felt unsafe and called for prompt repatriation.
“Myself and three other Nigerians have been unlawfully detained in Johannesburg airport for literally doing nothing, papers complete, visa valid and they literally just singled us out of the crowd,” Yemi tweeted. He said officials refused to let them arrange flights home and confiscated their phones for more than 24 hours. He also described how one of his fellow travellers, Jamal, was held for over a day under similar conditions, with his phone taken and limited access to communicate with others. 
Yemi said officials dismissed his valid Airbnb booking and even ignored a last-minute hotel payment he made to show he had accommodation. “The Airbnb excuse was shocking and irrelevant. I had enough funds to cover myself and booked an alternative hotel immediately, yet they ignored it,” he wrote. He accused the officers of harassment, insults, and wrongful profiling, describing the treatment as xenophobic.
South African immigration authorities confirmed the travellers had been denied entry, noting that using non-registered accommodations can be a reason for refusal. NIDCOM, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, confirmed the three had been cleared to depart and were expected to arrive in Lagos on Monday morning.
NIDCOM urged Nigerian travellers to apply for visas through official channels, verify all details in applications, travel with supporting documents, and ensure that accommodation is properly documented. The commission said reliance on unregulated agents can worsen problems, as applicants may not fully understand or be able to explain information submitted on their behalf.
South African Justice, Crime Prevention and Security officials also reminded visitors to comply with immigration rules. They advised that all details submitted in visa applications must be accurate and verifiable, and that authorities routinely review travel plans, including accommodation arrangements.
Yemi thanked those who helped secure their safe return and expressed frustration with what he described as a lack of communication from Nigerian authorities. “At no point did any Nigerian official reach out privately or publicly to ask for our side of the story before tweets and statements were made,” he wrote, calling for better support for Nigerians abroad in future cases.
