The first batch of Three Hundred and Seventy Six (376) Nigerians airlifted by NAF C-130 hercules aircraft from Aswan, Egypt as a result of the security crisis in Sudan have arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
94 Nigerians flown in NAF aircraft, landed at 2254 UTC (11.54pm local time) last night May 3, 2023 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Director of Public Relations & Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa made this known in a Statement on Thursday.
He disclosed that the NAF’s effort is in furtherance of its constitutional role of aid to civil authority, and in line with the commitment by the Federal Government to rescue and successfully return Nigerians living in Sudan back hom.
“The airlift operation is most heart warming as it coincides with the NAF’s 59th anniversary celebration holding in Enugu from 4-7 May 2023,” he said.
Recall that hostilities broke out on Saturday, April 15 2023 between Sudan Armed Forces and the Paramilitary RSF after an attempt to integrate both parties broke down.
This humanitarian assistance by the Nigerian Air Force and other well-meaning Nigerians has, however, ended days of anxiety with regards to the safety of Nigerian citizens in the troubled country and raised hope for those yet to be airlifted.
The death toll since the fighting between the rival factions erupted has been reported to be above 500 people including foreigners caught up in the capital, Khartoum.
On hand to receive the returnees on arrival were the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq.
Others were the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Sani Gwarzo; Director General National Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Habib; and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
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