The initial batch of Nigerian scholars who were left behind in Sudan as a result of the conflict have come back.
They arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, utilizing a military plane, AirPeace, and a commercial airline that volunteered to aid in the evacuation operation. More than 300 Nigerian citizens returned home.
According to the BBC, Arun Musa, a student at the International University of Africa, disclosed that he had never encountered such an occurrence since departing Nigeria five years ago.
He recounted that he was jolted awake by the sound of the first gunshot on April 15, 2023, and witnessed a lot of animals scurrying in every direction. "I was taken aback and just sprang out of bed," he stated.
Along with other individuals, I too fled while having nothing more than a pair of shorts and a singlet on me. We sprinted aimlessly without a destination.
Our institution made an effort to safeguard us, and there is much to recount, but I am grateful to have been reunited with my loved ones. It is a source of immense relief to me.
After spending half a decade in Sudan, Saratu Adam, a young Nigerian, was compelled to abandon her studies and flee to safety with only four months left until graduation.
Saratu is just one of many females who are unable to obtain appropriate personal hygiene resources as a result of the crisis. In a statement to the press, she remarked that locating food and clean water was an enormous struggle for them.
"The water we drank was unclean, and we were unable to have decent nourishment because the food was very expensive," she added. A different young lady confided to the media that they were unable to locate sanitary restrooms.
Their most significant anxiety was contracting an infection if they managed to survive. A lot of these individuals are pregnant and needed improved hygiene measures.
"The encounter was quite distressing for me. Even at present, I get frightened when I hear loud noises, but I am gradually adapting to it. We are grateful to the government for bringing us back home," she stated.
As of now, there have been no reported Nigerian casualties in the conflict. The government has advised parents to remain composed and assured them that they will make every effort to safely evacuate the students.
The conflict in Sudan has been brought about by the ongoing struggle between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in the loss of over 400 lives in the last several weeks.
Since the Sudanese coup in 2021, a committee of generals, led by two military officials, has been governing the nation. These two military men, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his subordinate, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also referred to as Hemedti, are at the heart of the nation's crisis.
They are at odds about the path the country should follow and the proposed initiative to establish civilian governance. The primary point of contention is the proposal to integrate the 100,000 members of RSF into the military and determine who will head the newly formed unit.
General Dagalo has publicly expressed his regret for the 2021 coup and has attempted to portray himself and the RSF as allies of the public versus the Khartoum elites.
Although he has garnered some support, many are skeptical of this statement due to the paramilitary organization's atrocious history. In the meantime, General Burhan has stated that the military will only relinquish control to a democratically elected government.
Nonetheless, there is a growing suspicion that both military leaders and their followers are concerned about the potential loss of their wealth and authority if they are no longer in their influential roles.
Content created and supplied by: Temmyabbe (via Opera News )
COMMENTS