Sudan War: FG to evacuate Nigerians by bus

A top Nigerian official announced that a convoy of buses will begin transporting about 3,000 of its people, mostly students, from Sudan to Egypt this week.

Foreign governments are scrambling to get their citizens out of Sudan as combat between forces loyal to two opposing generals enters its second week.

Western governments have dispatched special troops and military planes to assist in the evacuation of diplomatic personnel and other nationals. Others have escaped by vehicle from Khartoum’s capital.

Onimode Bandele, special duties director for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, told Channels TV the plan was to move about 2,650 to 2,800, including families of embassy staff.

“Nobody has been evacuated yet,” he said. “There are plans to get buses to start movement tomorrow morning.”

Officials say a total of around 5,000 Nigerian nationals could be looking for evacuation.

Since fighting erupted, at least 427 people have been killed and more than 3,700 wounded, according to UN agencies.

They also reported Sudanese civilians fleeing areas affected by fighting, including to Chad, Egypt and South Sudan.