Nigerian students are fleeing their homes for safety as heavy gunfire continues in the Republic of Sudan.
A fierce military clash between Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Force has claimed 330 lives and injured 3,200.
According to reports, approximately 4,000 Nigerian students are stranded in Sudan due to the ongoing crisis there.
Abubakar Babangida, president of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Sudan (NANSS), confirmed this.
The clashes had also displaced thousands of civilians who fled Khartoum, even as some foreign nations, including Japan, Uganda, and Tanzania, began evacuating their nationals as the violence, which began on April 8, entered its 13th day on Friday.
Until recently, the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel al-Burhan, and the RSF paramilitary group, led by General Mohamed Dagalo, were allies.
Over 1,262 Nigerian students have petitioned the federal government to evacuate them from Sudan.
Following an assessment of the situation in Sudan, the Federal Government announced on Thursday that it had requested permission to evacuate Nigerians, particularly students, who were trapped in the armed conflict.
It also reiterated the call for a cease-fire to allow for the evacuation of foreign citizens.
Some Nigerian students yesterday cried out that they were trapped in their respective homes and hostels due to ongoing clashes in the country.
Hussein Musa Yusuf, one of the students, told Daily Trust by phone last night that there has been a lack of water, food, electricity, and other basic necessities since Sunday, April 16.
He stated that they were unable to go out in search of basic necessities due to ongoing shootings that had resulted in civilian casualties.
Yusuf, a Kano State native, added that if they are not quickly repatriated, they will face danger because they lack access to health care facilities and pharmacies.
“Many students are stranded in their hostels and houses without basic needs of life such as food, water and electricity.
“Presently, there is no access to hospitals and pharmacies. There is a risk if they go out because there is shooting and civilian casualties have been recorded,” he said.
When asked whether the Nigerian embassy in Sudan had contacted them for possible repatriation, Yusuf said they had not been contacted as of Thursday apart from the information given to them via a letter that was released on Wednesday.
The letter dated April 19 read, “Pursuant to undoing armed clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Force (RSF), which commenced on 15th April 2023, the Embassy is passionately appealing to all Nigerian nationals to exercise caution and restrain with respect to the circumstances we found ourselves.
“Be that as it may, the Embassy is in touch with all relevant stakeholders in Khartoum and Abuja respectfully, for protection and well-being of Nigerians in Sudan.
“Similarly, the embassy is making plans for possible evacuation of Nigerians Nationals with approval of the Federal Government of Nigeria as soon as the situation allows it and you will be communicated in due course.
“Consequently, the ambassador enjoined all Nigerian Nationals in Sudan to stay safe and be wary of fake news circulating the social media these trying times. As always, the Embassy will keep a close contact with the leadership of all the Nigerian unions for further consular assistance and updates.”
‘Nigerian gov’t consulting’
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), yesterday acknowledged that the commission had received the letter of solicitation by the NANSS for a possible evacuation of students, especially those in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.
Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NIDCOM, expressed concerns about their plights following the escalation of hostilities between the Sudanese army and RSF.
She assured that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which is in charge of emergency evacuations, was consulting with the Nigerian mission in Sudan and other relevant agencies.
She, therefore, urged all Nigerian Students in Sudan as well as Nigerians living in Sudan to be security conscious and calm.