Nigerians in Sudan should remain indoors: Embassy

The Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum has asked Nigerians particularly students in Sudan to “remain indoors” as the bloody fight between rival forces in the country rages.

 

 

“As the Embassy had earlier informed students, you are therefore requested to stay calm and remain indoors, while the embassy is working on final approval to commence evacuation,” an excerpt in the statement from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Khartoum, signed by H.Y Garko for Charge D’Affairs read on Sunday.

 

 

No fewer than 4,000 Nigerians are currently trapped in Sudan following the violent clash between the rival forces, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Since last weekend, the bloody clashes between the two rival forces loyal to Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been raging in the capital Khartoum and other strategic areas throughout the country.

At least, 400 people have been killed and hundreds wounded since the fight broke out between the forces of the two rival generals.

The fight entered its second week on Sunday.

Positing further in the statement, the Nigerian embassy said it was still dangerous to embark on a journey towards the borders of Sudan without security clearance from the country’s authorities.

“The Embassy wishes to reassure the Nigerian students that their safety and wellbeing is of priority concern,” a copy of the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette read further.

Earlier on Sunday, the Nigerian students trapped in the troubled country raised the alarm that they were currently being surrounded by criminals.

They added that the battle between the rival forces which had paralysed economic activities was getting worse.

Since the violence broke out, France, Italy, Turkey, and the United States have begun to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.

But the Nigerian government on Friday said it was difficult to evacuate its citizens stuck in troubled Sudan, citing challenges posed to air travel.

“While @nemanigeria and the Nigerian Mission in Sudan have put in place necessary arrangements, any flight now is gravely risky. Airlines on the ground at the airport were all burnt today, there is a curfew in place, and no flights can operate,” said the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a tweet.