A group of over 30 Imo indigenes who recently returned from South Africa gathered near the Imo State Government House on Thursday, urging Governor Hope Uzodimma to extend the ₦1 million grant offered to previous returnees to include them as well. The returnees, holding placards, expressed their desire to meet with officials responsible for the reintegration of returnees from South Africa, hoping to secure financial assistance to help them rebuild their lives.

The returnees commended Governor Uzodimma for his support to earlier batches of returnees but highlighted that they had not yet been considered for the same assistance. One of the returnees articulated their plea, stating, "These are the Imolites from South Africa to appeal to the Governor for inclusion. We are pleading to whoever is in charge to please include us and assist."

Another returnee, Joseph Njoku, echoed similar sentiments, expressing gratitude for the governor's initiatives while stressing their exclusion from the support program. He said, "We gathered here from South Africa. We appreciate what the Governor started but we have not been captured. We want the support from him."

In June, Governor Uzodimma announced a ₦1 million cash grant for each Imo indigene who was repatriated from South Africa, following a series of violent attacks that forced many Nigerians and other Africans to leave the country. The attacks were fueled by local resentment towards foreigners, who were accused of taking jobs from South Africans.

As the returnees continue to appeal for inclusion in the grant program, efforts to reach the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Declan Emelumba, for a comment on the situation were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to inquiries at the time of this report.