Sudan Crisis: Igbos Among the First Batch of Nigerian Evacuees, FG Clarifies

 Nigeria’s Federal Government has clarified that Igbos were among the first set of Nigerians that were evacuated fom crisis-ridden Sudan.

The Nigerian government especially the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa was called out by a stranded Nigerian in Sudan on the social media for allegedly denying Igbos a lift in the bus chartered to convey stranded Nigerians from Khartoum to Cairo, in Egypt.

A statement on Tuesday by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Francisca Omayuli read:
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a video making the rounds on the social media of an unidentified man with no indication of his contact details nor location, claiming that the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, refused to evacuate Igbos resident in Sudan.

“The Ministry has investigated the allegation and can assure Nigerians that there is no truth whatsoever to the allegation. The Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum confirmed that evacuees of Igbo extraction were among the first batch of 637 Nigerians evacuated to Aswan Border, Egypt where they are presently awaiting their eventual return to Nigeria.

“In addition, the Embassy noted that before the commencement of the movement of buses deployed for the evacuation exercise in Khartoum, there were scuffles between the students and other Nigerian residents due to the limited number of buses. 

“However, more buses were made available to accommodate every Nigerian national in Sudan who indicated interest to be evacuated.”

 Omayuli added that: “It is therefore, surprising that such a misleading allegation could be leveled against officials of the Embassy who had worked tirelessly on the evacuation exercise.
To this end, the general public is advised to disregard the allegation.”

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

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