Sudan: First Batch of Nigerian Evacuees Arrive in Abuja

The first batch of fleeing who were trapped days ago in warring Sudan has arrived in Abuja.

Air Peace flight carrying over 270 Nigerian students from the Aswan Airport in Egypt has landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Another set of about 80-person evacuees conveyed in a NAF C-130H jet also touched down moments later.

This came over a week when the Federal Government assured Nigerian evacuees of safe evacuation from Khartoum and the Darfur region.

Since April 15, Sudan has been plunged into armed conflict with clashes between rival factions of the North African nation’s military government breaking out in western Sudan,

Hundreds have since been killed while thousands of others have suffered injuries.

Reports held the evacuees arrived at the airport amid heavy security presence, including mostly wingmen of the Nigerian Air Force.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Farouk; the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and the Director General of the National Management Emergency Agency (NEMA), Ahmed Mustapha, were at the airport to receive the students.

According to Farouk, the returnees would be given N100,000 each to enable them to settle in, adding that a full press briefing on the issues surrounding the evacuation had been scheduled for later on Thursday.

The NEMA boss further assured that four aircraft would arrive on Thursday. He added that the aircraft was expected to convey almost 400 persons.

Moreso, Azman Air has joined Air Peace in the evacuation effort, Farouk stated.