For many Nigerians forced to return home after losing their livelihoods in South Africa, the journey back has been one of uncertainty, despair and trauma.

After spending between 15 and 30 years abroad, many returned with no homes, businesses or means of livelihood following attacks that reportedly left their shops and properties destroyed during xenophobic violence in South Africa.

However, no fewer than 15 of them have found relief through the Omega Power Ministries (OPM), which founder and cleric, Chibuzor Chinyere, has provided accommodation, feeding and support to help them rebuild their lives.

The Guardian learnt that some of the returnees and their children are being accommodated in an OPM free estate in Port Harcourt, while the children have also been enrolled in school. Confirming this, the cleric said he was moved to intervene after learning about their ordeal through a member of the church’s South African branch.

He disclosed that many of the victims had lived in South Africa for decades and had invested everything there, adding that leaving them with nowhere to return to after their businesses were destroyed would trigger trauma, sickness or death, hence his decision to intervene.

“When I heard their stories and discovered that many of them had nowhere to stay after returning to Nigeria, I decided to help,” he stated. “Some had spent over 20 years in South Africa and had no homes here because everything they owned was there.”

The cleric disclosed that OPM acquired an estate to accommodate the returnees using church funds and has continued to provide food and other necessities for them and their families.

According to Chinyere, “the motivation is simply the love of God. The Bible teaches us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty and provide shelter for the homeless. That is the principle guiding what we are doing.”

Beyond immediate relief, the cleric said the ministry plans to establish businesses for the returnees to enable them to bounce back and become self-reliant. To this end, he said a welfare committee will monitor the beneficiaries and supervise the purchase of goods for the businesses to ensure the support is not mismanaged.

Reflecting on the root causes of irregular migration, Chinyere posited that many Nigerians migrate in search of better opportunities due to economic hardship. Consequently, he urged the government at all levels to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, especially by addressing such challenges as poor electricity supply and inadequate infrastructure.

The cleric also highlighted the development initiatives he has championed as the traditional ruler of his community, Ikwuorie Ohanku, in Ukwa East Local Council Area of Abia State.

He said the community, after years without a power supply, now enjoys electricity and streetlights, which he attracted from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), just as OPM has established free schools and other social projects in the area.

Chinyere further disclosed that, upon becoming the traditional ruler, he abolished the practice of settling disputes through shrines and persuaded traditional worshippers to abandon their shrines in exchange for support to establish legitimate businesses.

He maintained that combining spiritual leadership with traditional authority has enabled him to drive reforms and accelerate development in the community, adding that, contrary to some opinions, it is all pure and true service to humanity.