In the midst of the ongoing, deadly fighting in the nation of Sudan, Nigerian students are still imprisoned in Khartoum.
As plans are being made to evacuate about 5,500 stranded Nigerians out of Sudan via the Egyptian town of Luxor, the Federal Government has reportedly revealed that 40 buses are on the ground and ready to transport the students from Khartoum to Cairo.
To ensure that the stranded Nigerians are transported safely, the Nigerian government has asked Egypt for assistance.
A formal request for buses to transport students from Khartoum to Cairo on Tuesday at 6 am was made by the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan in a letter dated April 23, 2023, signed by the Charge d’Affaires, Haruna Garko.
The request was made in a letter that began, “I am directed to request the services of your 200 seater buses to transport 3500 Nigerian students from Khartoum to Cairo Egypt on April 25, 2023, at 6 am.”
This action coincides with other foreign nations rushing to evacuate their citizens from Sudan as ongoing deadly fighting between forces loyal to two opposing generals continues.
Many foreigners have left the capital city of Khartoum in a large UN convoy, but millions of terrified locals have sought refuge inside their homes, many of whom are running low on basic necessities like food and water. Since April 15, the five million-person city has transformed into a battlefield as army and paramilitary forces engage in fierce street battles, leaving behind burned tanks, demolished structures, and looted stores.
We are still in Khartoum, a student who pleaded for anonymity told the Punch in a Tuesday interview. It is now 12 o’clock, per the Embassy. The Embassy might decide to revise their position, I worry.
Umar Abubakar, the president of the students’ association at Jigawa State in Sudan, stated, “We are yet to move.”
“Hello everyone,” was written in a forwarded message to the students that our correspondent saw on Tuesday. Please note that the take up as previously announced will be delayed due to some logistical issues.
“We will announce once the arrangements are complete.
“Therefore, in the interim, people should try to stay where they are. However, we can assure you that we only make it by God’s grace.
“We appreciate your patience,” you said.
In one of the poorest countries in the world, the United Nations reported that over 420 people have died and thousands have been injured.
