FG boosts evacuation committee as stranded Nigerians in Sudan knock at government

Nigerian students who are trapped in the Republic of Sudan claim that the Federal Government has shattered their hopes of an early evacuation from the scene of a fierce military battle.

Almost 400 people have died and nearly 3,500 have been injured in the confrontation between the Sudanese security forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Force.

The violence, which began on April 8 and entered its 14th day on Saturday, has forced hundreds of citizens to flee the capital Khartoum.

The RSF paramilitary group and the Sudanese Armed Forces, both commanded by General Mohamed Dagalo, were previously partners.

They collaborated in the 2019 revolt that ousted Sudan’s cruel dictator Omar al-Bashir, who had governed the nation for thirty years.

The Federal Government had highlighted on Friday how it was challenging to evacuate stranded Nigerian people from the country due to the severe situation in Sudan.

Although the Nigerian Mission in Sudan and the National Emergency Management Agency had put plans in place to evacuate the citizens, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, said it was impossible for any flight during this time of war.

A statement signed by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NIDCOM, read, “The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said while the Nigerian Mission in Sudan and the National Emergency Management Agency have put in place arrangements to evacuate Nigerian students and other Nigerian citizens stranded in Sudan, the tensed situation makes it gravely risky and impossible for any flights at this point in time, noting that aircraft parked at the airport in the country were burnt yesterday (Thursday) morning.

“Dabiri-Erewa noted that humanitarian groups are seeking ways of getting food, water and medical supplies across to people.

“She, therefore, appealed to the fighting parties to consider the Juba Peace Agreement enunciated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development as a fundamental mechanism for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the country.”

The Federal Government declared all airports and land borders in Sudan closed on Saturday, citing the complex emergency situation there caused by continued conflict between opposing factions.

Nonetheless, it noted that a search and rescue team had been formed to devise the most secure means of evacuating Nigerians trapped in the unrest-stricken country.

The National Emergency Management Agency, which the government used to announce this, stressed that it was aware of the general public’s worry on the situation in Sudan.

Manzo Ezekiel, the head of NEMA’s press unit, said in a statement that the organization was coordinating with other federal departments and agencies to find a suitable window for the evacuation of Nigerians who were trapped in Sudan.

The statement partly read, “The attention of the National Emergency Management Agency is drawn to the widespread public concern on the situation in Sudan, especially in regards to the ongoing conflict and the safety as well as well-being of stranded Nigerian citizens, including hundreds of students in various universities of the country.

“It has become necessary to inform the public that NEMA is in constant communication with all relevant partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and security agencies, while seeking an appropriate window of opportunity to evacuate all stranded Nigerians back home in a safe and dignified manner.

“The current emergency situation in Sudan is very complex with fighting between warring factions going on and all airports and land borders closed. NEMA is working assiduously with all its partners and is constantly compiling updated information on the situation.”

The organization said that a committee made up of qualified emergency responders and search and rescue specialists had been formed to continuously assess the situation.

According to the statement, the team would also look for the safest route to take Nigerian residents out of Sudan, even if it meant going through a neighboring nation.

Mustapha Ahmed, the NEMA director general, stated that the organization was deeply worried about the situation in Sudan and the living conditions of Nigerians there.

He claimed that the emergency organization was in control of the situation and was exploring all available alternatives to return the trapped Nigerians to their loved ones in their country in a secure and respectable way.