Sudan conflict: FG clears air on alleged refusal to allow South Easterners access to boarding evacuation buses

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has refuted a claim that its chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, blocked some Nigerians from boarding buses that the Federal Government had leased to transport stranded Nigerians out of war-torn Khartoum in Sudan, particularly those of South-East extraction.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the spokesperson for NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, called the claim made by the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, which was led by one Goodluck Ibe, “wicked, divisive, and a ridiculous fabrication.”

Narrating what transpired, Balogun explained, “Reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff on the ground in Khartoum, indicated that when the boarding of buses began, the situation was so chaotic that some people (including non-Nigerians) jumped in violently, some with daggers, and through the windows.

“To bring sanity and to abide by the instruction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs that priority should be given to women, children and students, the officials started calling them in according to states in alphabetical order, beginning with Abia State.

“Reports from Sudan indicate that all who converged at the prescribed locations to be picked up have all been moved in 40 buses either towards Port Sudan or towards Egyptian borders.

“However , if some arrived after the stipulated time or did not show up at the point of pickup, they cannot blame it on anyone.

“NIDCOM is focused, working with other relevant agencies on the safe return of stranded Nigerians and will not be distracted by nonsensical, illogical , irresponsible , rascal and unfounded comments meant to distract from the success, safe and secure return of Nigerians from Khartoum, Sudan.”