Richard Anyebe
Reactions have continued to trail the claim by Igbo students in Sudan that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has shown bias in the evacuation of Nigerians from the war-torn country.
A video that has gone viral on social media showed some stranded Igbo students with their luggages, accusing the federal government of discrimination in the evacuation process.
In the video, a narrator claimed that he boarded one of the evacuation buses on Saturday but was ordered to come down.
He, therefore, sought help from prominent Igbo personalities for their evacuation.
He said: “This appeal goes to Igbos. We are right here at the University of Khartoum in Sudan. They said they are doing an evacuation project in which Nigerians are to be evacuated out of Sudan. They came and carried some people and then abandoned us Igbos. We boarded the last bus that moved some Nigerians to Egypt, which left two days ago but we were asked to move out of the bus. Everything is now politics.
“We are pleading with our Igbo people who can help us. Our brother Air Peace who brought Airplane to help evacuate Nigerians might be feeling that everything is moving on fine. Let them know that things are not going fine. See our bags here. This is where we are. Somehow, news has spread that we have been evacuated but that’s not true.
“We plead with people like Prince Arthur Eze, Obi Cubana, and all those that can help us out.”
The video has since, drawn the ire of many Nigerians, most Igbos who condemned the development on their respective Twitter handles.
They also demanded an explanation from the Nigerian authorities.
Others appear to mock to mock Igbos, citing Biafra.
Below are some of the reactions on the micro-blogging app.
“What!!!!!! This can’t be true! I refuse to believe this! No, as Yoruba people would say, ” tabaja, bi ti kaaku ko”. can you please confirm this ma? Thank you.”
What!!!!!!
This can't be true!
I refuse to believe this!
No, as Yoruba people would say, " tabaja, bi ti kaaku ko"@abikedabiri can you please confirm this ma?
Thank you.
— 🏘️IamEri'Oluwa🇳🇬🇿🇦🇳🇦 (@IamEriOluwa) May 1, 2023
“They should wait for Biafra bus
Why d rush into a zoo country 🤣🤣🤣”
They should wait from biafra bus
Why d rush into a zoo country 🤣🤣🤣— Orpe yemi (@optimus_pri123) May 1, 2023
“May help be far from you when you need it. Bus or bicycle you no go smell when you need transportation to get to safety. People like you are the evil we are praying and fighting about. The society doesn’t want you in it.”
May help be far from you when you need it. Bus or bicycle you no go smell when you need transportation to get to safety. People like you are the evil we are praying and fighting about. The society doesn’t want you in it.
— Mrs. QueenWilson🇺🇸🇳🇬 (@MercyOWilson) May 1, 2023
“Why should evacuation be made based on state of Origin if not for discrimination?
All of them will land in either Abuja, or Lagos abi, and from there to their various states.
So, what’s the point of evacuating based on state of Origin?
I need an answer, Nigerian Government.”
Why should evacuation be made based on state of Origin if not for discrimination?
All of them will land in either Abuja, or Lagos abi, and from there to their various states.
So, what's the point of evacuating based on state of Origin?
I need answer, Nigerian Government.— Intuition💥💥💥💥💥 (@in2itionxl) May 1, 2023
“Wetim Igbo dey find for Sudan? Shey container dey reach that side?”
Wetim igbo dey find for Sudan?
Shey container dey reach that side?
— MAN OF GOD (@HeartOfGod_LOVE) May 2, 2023
“We predicted it, immediately they started by state of origin.”
We predicted it, immediately they started by state of origin pic.twitter.com/BeaUdgeNKy
— Winnified (Retweet anything Peter Obi for living ) (@winnified4real) May 1, 2023
“Am not surprised, because, from the day they brought the idea of using state of origin, I knew it will come to this”
Am not surprised, because from the day the brought the idea of using state of origin I knew it will come to this
— JOHNSON EMMY (@Jval222) May 1, 2023
“Igbo leaders in leadership are ‘sell out’! In as much tribalism is considered to be unhealthy, it’s apparent every region is taking care of its own. Sadly, it’s what it is – the country is divided along ethnic lines. How the Igbos are being treated is terribly unfair.”
Igbo leaders in leadership are ‘sell out’! In as much tribalism is considered to be unhealthy, it's apparent every region is taking care of their own. Sadly, it's what it is – the country is divided along ethnic lines. How the Igbos are bring treated is terribly unfair.
— Humankind 🌏 (@lanrejoda) May 1, 2023
“Hmmm nawa oh, no wonder Abike Dabiri said they were grouped state by state to fish out the Igbos.”
Hmmm nawa oh, no wonder Abike Dabiri said they where grouped state by state to fish out the Igbos
— The Eleventh Hour Worker ❁ (@Chigozieweezdom) May 1, 2023
“Nothing surprises us again in Nigeria regarding Igbophobia. The story is likely true.”
https://twitter.com/IgweOdyssey/status/1653117590078648320?t=10eX19Xu1vFGPlvNoSSekA&s=19
“Now you all understand the reason why they used state of origin to evacuate the Nigerian citizens in Sudan. A failed government indeed.”
Now you all understand the reason why they used state of origin to evacuate the Nigerian citizens in Sudan. A failed government in deed.
— Okezue Obinwanne (@Obilala_2000) May 1, 2023
“I know and have accepted it long ago that all parts of 🇳🇬 hate me as an Igbo person and I don’t know why it’s difficult for others to accept it.”
I know and have accepted it long ago that all parts of 🇳🇬 hate me as an Igbo person and I don’t know why it’s difficult for others to accept it
— FREEDOM 🇰🇿🇷🇺🇯🇵 (@FreedomSylves) May 1, 2023
“The first class state of origin is always the northern states and the Igbos can die in the war-torn country and when our bus comes back any Igbo that survives can join the bus.”
The first class state of origin is always the northern states and the Igbos can die in the war torn country and when our bus comes back any igbo that survive can join the bus.
— Doverun (@doverun) May 1, 2023
“An Igbo man freely brought an airplane ✈️ to evacuate ALL Nigerians stranded in Sudan 🇸🇩. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government led by @abikedabiri introduced “State of Origin,” in the evacuation process. Guess what, the Igbos were left behind. Why should Igbos believe in Nigeria?”
An Igbo man freely brought airplane ✈️ to evacuate ALL Nigerians stranded in Sudan 🇸🇩. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government led by @abikedabiri introduced “State of Origin,” in the evacuation process. Guess what, the Igbos were left behind. Why should Igbos believe in Nigeria?
— DEC (@stevedameze) May 1, 2023
“This is disheartening, Nigeria should do better and convey everyone back home safely. However, I was made to understand that students were given the priority. Even with that, it still doesn’t make sense. First come, first serve.”
This is disheartening, Nigeria should do better and convey everyone back home safely. However, I was made to understand that students were given the priority. Even with that, it still doesn’t make sense. First come, first serve.
— Night Crawler (@memoizing) May 1, 2023
“This man should give a response to this with immediate effect.”
This man should give response to this with immediate effect pic.twitter.com/tjllMjAw8F
— senior man🤗🤗 (@kamaldeenh214) May 2, 2023
Recall that Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), had a few days ago, stated in a tweet that Nigerians in Sudan are being sorted according to their States Of Origin during the evacuation process.
She deleted the tweet after it garnered a backlash from concerned Nigerians who wanted to know the essence of the State Of Origin profiling in the evacuation process.
Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported fire caught one of the buses conveying stranded Nigerians from Khartoum, Sudan to Port Sudan in the early hours of Monday.
Reports say a total of 26 buses conveying the stranded Nigerians left Al Razi around 12 am on Monday for Port Sudan where they will move into Saudi Arabia.
