A report that armed thugs attacked a group of Nigerian students returning to their hostel on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan because there was no space in the hired buses by the Federal Government, has sparked fears for the safety of Nigerians in the troubled country.
The fears further heightened as another viral video showed many others allegedly stranded in the desert as bus drivers conveying them to Egypt allegedly parked their buses because they were not paid.
Video of alleged stranded evacuees below:
According to an online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, Idris Bello, a survivor of the attack, narrated the ordeal of the attack on them over the phone, disclosing that the incident occurred near Napasha Street at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to him, five of the students were unharmed, but Umar Hudu, a 21-year-old Computer Science student, was severely injured.
“We normally converge from the morning till evening at the International University of Africa for evacuation.
“Some of us who are not lucky to be evacuated today, returned to their hostels to sleep, before returning to the point the following morning.
“On our way back home, a group of armed thugs charged at us, attacking us with dangerous weapons.
“Five of us escaped unhurt but one of us Hudu Umar was severely wounded. He bled profusely as there was no hospital to take him to.
“I used my little knowledge as a medical student to attend to him, and control the bleeding,” he said.
Recall that there was relief on Wednesday when the Federal Government disclosed it had commenced the evacuation of about 5,500 stranded Nigerians with the hiring of 40 buses at $1.2 million.
Air Peace, owned by businessman, Allen Onyema, also deployed three 777 Jumbo Jets to effect the evacuation of countrymen and women, mostly students from the troubled country.
There is a lapsing 72-hour ceasefire holding, but the United Kingdom has warned it would be potentially dangerous and difficult to evacuate after the window closes.
Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, disclosed after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, that evacuation take days.
Air Peace’s Allen Onyema on Arise News breakfast programme ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday, said: “I will deploy three 777 Boeing aircrafts to Egypt on Friday to bring back home Nigerians who escaped from Sudan. I would have deployed aircrafts earlier to Sudan but it was not possible due to safety and security reasons. But I am deploying three 777 jumbo jets on Friday. I think no country stops us this time around”.
Said the minister after the FEC meeting: “With regards to the evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan, you’ll recall that the main challenge we had was securing some permission, first of all, authorization of the Sudanese government and then, you know, some security support for the convoy because it’s been decided that we will transport or convey the Nigerians to the Egyptian border Aswan.
“So, that’s what we decided. We are liaising with our embassy in Egypt as well. So we’ve been able to overcome several challenges and have started the process which we’re very happy about. We secured a significant number of luxurious buses because the distances are quite considerable. We started the process and it will take, you know, maybe a couple of days to evacuate everybody….
“As regards the gender question, I think that’s something we will have to look into in a bit more detail, but I think ordinarily, it will be appropriate that women and children should be given priority I think that goes without saying.
On how much it was costing the Nigerian government, Onyeama said: “$1.2 million is what we’re being charged for all the 40 buses. We have transporter luxury buses made available to us to transport to the Egyptian border. Of course, you know, because of the risks involved and so many other things, a lot of people are going to also take advantage, you’re going to hike up the price. We saw that the French convoy was attacked and so forth. It was difficult procuring these buses. But we had to do it because Nigerian lives matter to us.
“So, the exact numbers that will now make it on that convoy to Egypt is not exactly clear at the moment. But once they get there from Aswan, as the Honorable Minister has also said, the director general of NEMA is there, and they are now going to take over with regards to getting them back to Nigeria.
“So, whether they use military transport planes, C-130, I spoke to the Chief of Defence Staff, and he indicated that there were some military transport planes that will be available. And of course, you mentioned you know, Airpeace making that offer and there are other airlines, too, that their owners might also want to make an offer, but we will leave it to NEMA to coordinate who they use to transport by air, these citizens of ours.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, said the Nigerian government had successfully secured permission and authorization from the Sudanese government to evacuate Nigerians from the country.
“The evacuation is being done in batches to ensure the safety of all Nigerians, but the good news is that no Nigerian life has been lost so far. I think it’s important to stress that all Nigerians are very safe and we’re very confident and hopeful that we shall not lose any Nigerian life Insha Allah in this exercise. All is well and we’re good to go….
Commenting on the 72-hour window, Dada said: “We have no problem about the 72 hour window. Because we’ve talked to all the authorities concerned and we’re on the same page, but talking about the window, we are making every effort to ensure that we make use of this window to evaluate as many Nigerians as we possibly can….
“Let me also add that some Nigerians have actually been evacuated by ship, I guess from Port Sudan, by the government of Saudi Arabia. Don’t forget, this is a joint effort.
“We have friendly nations that are ready to assist, you know, so that we’re having to record that the Saudi authorities have been able to, pick up some Nigerians, they’re transporting them by ship, I guess to Saudi Arabia, to Jeddah in particular. From where, of course, again, we’ll link up and find a way of bringing them back from Jeddah those that succeed in going to Jeddah….
“On how the operation is being handled, all lives are equal. Certainly, we won’t want to give preference to diplomats. The diplomats are just as good as every other Nigerian. So, we will take them all on board depending on who’s ready and available at any point in time.”