Trapped Nigerian Students Yet To Leave Khartoum For Egypt As Sudan Conflict Rages

Trapped Nigerian students in Sudan have yet to leave Khartoum, the country’s capital.

Reports say 40 buses were already on the ground to convey the students from Khartoum to Cairo.

This is just as foreign countries have been rushing and evacuating their nationals from Sudan as the fighting in the country enters its second week.

The fighting is between forces loyal to two rival generals.

Foreigners have for days, been fleeing the capital, Khartoum in a long-United Nations convoy.

According to other reports, some other millions of frightened residents hunkered down inside their homes, many running low on water and food.

Across the city of five million, army and paramilitary troops have fought ferocious street battles since April 15, leaving behind charred tanks, gutted buildings, and looted shops.

The UN said more than 420 people have been killed and thousands wounded.

This is also fear this situation will degenerate into a wider turmoil and a humanitarian disaster in Sudan, which is one of the world’s poorest nations.

The Nigerian government had said it was making preparations to evacuate about 5,500 stranded Nigerians out of Sudan through the Egyptian town of Luxor, adding that it was seeking Egypt’s support so that the stranded Nigerians could be moved to Luxor.

However, in a letter dated 23 April 2023, signed by the Charge D’ Affairs, Haruna Garko, the Embassy of Nigeria, Sudan requested buses to convey students from Khartoum to Cairo on Tuesday at 6 am.

The letter read “I am directed to request the services of your 200 seater buses to convey 3500 Nigerian students from Khartoum to Cairo Egypt on 25 April 2023, at 6 am in the morning.”

But reports say Nigerian students were yet to leave Khartoum for Cairo.

A Nigerian student was quoted to have confirmed that “We are still in Khartoum. The Embassy has moved the time to 12pm. I am afraid that the Embassy might change their mind.“

The President of the Jigawa State Students Association in Sudan, Umar Abubakar, said, “we are yet to move.”

In a forwarded message sent to the students Tuesday read “Hello all. Please due some logistics issues, there will be a delay for the take up as earlier announced.

“Once arrangements are concluded, we will announce.

“Therefore, people should endeavour to stay where they are in the interim. But we assure you we are going by the grace of God.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that Former Minister of Aviation cum Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode has said the 10th Senate would be in a competent hand under the leadership of Orji Kalu as Senate President.

Fani-Kayode asserted in a tweet which appears like a campaign for Kalu on his official handle on Tuesday.