Three Nigerian sisters who drowned in the sea off Brighton, southern England, have been ruled to have taken their own lives following an inquest into their deaths.

The sisters, Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, lived together in Greenford, west London. They had become increasingly withdrawn following the death of their mother in 2010.

The inquest heard that the sisters visited an area of Birmingham close to where their mother died on May 11 before travelling to Brighton the following day.

According to report, they were later seen on the town’s eastern seafront in the early hours of May 13, when they entered the sea in difficult conditions. None of the sisters could swim.

Their father, Joseph Jacobsen, described the loss of his three daughters as heartbreaking.

Coroner Penelope Schofield said the court could not speculate on the reasons behind the sisters’ actions.

Evidence presented at the inquest showed that a taxi carrying the sisters arrived in Brighton at 10.21pm on May 12. The driver reportedly noticed that they were quiet during the journey.

Closed-circuit television footage later showed the sisters on Brighton’s eastern seafront. They were last seen alive at 2.42am on May 13.

The inquest also heard that police examining Christina’s laptop found 227 references to water and 179 references to suicide. Christina had reportedly experienced anxiety and depression following their mother’s death.

Rebecca’s medical records contained no significant information relevant to the inquest, while Jane was not registered with a doctor.

Toxicology tests found no evidence of drugs or alcohol in the sisters’ systems, and investigators found no evidence of violence.

Jane was brought ashore by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and pronounced dead. Christina was recovered by an RNLI lifeboat, while Rebecca’s body was later washed ashore. Both were pronounced dead by paramedics.

The inquest examined the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the sisters’ movements in the hours before they entered the water.

The Federal Government has evacuated another 111 Nigerians from South Africa amid renewed concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, bringing the total number of citizens repatriated under the ongoing exercise to 2,037.

The returnees, comprising 44 men, 23 women and 44 children, arrived in Lagos on Thursday, October 8, aboard South African Airways Flight SA060, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

The latest evacuation was funded by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), through its $265,854 donation to support the return of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.

The returnees were received by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant federal agencies.

In a statement, the ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, said the latest arrival marked the 15th consular evacuation from South Africa since the exercise began on June 10, 2026.

Of the 2,037 Nigerians evacuated so far, 1,388 had their repatriation costs fully covered by the Federal Government, while 318 have benefited from one-way tickets funded by the RCCG. The church’s donation is expected to cover another 182 Nigerians to complete its commitment to sponsor 500 returnees.

The government expressed appreciation to the RCCG, led by its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, for supporting the evacuation of distressed citizens.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to engaging South African authorities and other stakeholders to address xenophobia and Afrophobia and safeguard the welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerians living in the country.

The ministry urged Nigerians remaining in South Africa to obey local laws, remain vigilant and prioritise their safety. It advised them to maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg for assistance when necessary.

The latest evacuation comes amid heightened anti-migrant tensions in South Africa, where recent anti-immigrant protests and violence have raised fresh concerns about the safety of foreign nationals. Reuters reported that violence in Johannesburg and Durban included the burning of vehicles and looting of foreign-owned shops.

The Federal Government said it would continue providing consular assistance to Nigerians abroad and working with relevant authorities to protect their welfare.

At least 22 people are feared dead after suspected bandits attacked traders travelling under the escort of Nigerian Army troops in Zamfara State.

According to report, the attack happened early on Sunday as the traders travelled from Gurusu to Gwashi in Bukkuyum Local Government Area to attend the weekly market in Gwashi.

A resident, Malam Aminu Gwashi, who confirmed the incident, said several people, including security personnel, were reportedly killed in the attack.

He added that many others were injured and taken to Bukkuyum General Hospital for treatment.

The communities of Gwashi and Bukkuyum have suffered repeated attacks by bandits in recent times. The attacks have disrupted trading and other economic activities in the area.