One of the buses conveying stranded Nigerians from Khartoum, the capital of the war-torn Sudan in the early hours of yesterday reportedly caught fire. They were to be taken to Port Sudan, where they were scheduled to enter Saudi Arabia.
About 26 buses had departed from Al Razi at midnight and were en route to Port Sudan with the stranded Nigerians.
“One of the buses conveying some 50 Nigerian students from Sudan with a tag number (Katsina 1) heading to Port Sudan as part of the second batch of FGN evacuation got damaged due to excessive heat from one of the vehicle’s tyres.
“Dr Hashim Idris Na’Allah, the chairman of the Nigerian Elders’ Forum in Sudan, was one of the passengers in the said bus, which contained a total of 50 students (49 males, 1 female).
“The incident happened around 2:30 am Sudan time. The driver stopped the bus near an RSF checkpoint, just before the tire exploded causing a fire to start. All the passengers escaped unhurt.
“Forty out of the 50 passengers were later distributed to the other buses evacuating the students, while the remaining passengers spent the night where the incident happened alongside the driver at the RSF checkpoint.
“The students said the RSF really did their best to help the passengers and offered them cups of tea in the morning before they left,” Sani Aliyu, who is in Sudan disclosed.
Fortunately, the passengers were able to continue their journey to Port Sudan despite the mishap.
More than 1,000 Nigerians have been left stranded and are being evacuated through the Port Sudan route due to the challenges encountered in getting the first set of evacuees across the Egyptian borders.
The group of stranded Nigerians has been stuck at the borders for five days after being denied access into Egypt by officials. The flights scheduled to airlift them to Nigeria are already waiting, but the stranded Nigerians have been unable to enter Egypt to board their flights home.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian authorities have finally agreed to open its border for Nigerians stranded in Sudan to come in. The gesture is, however, coming with stringent conditions and guidelines, it was learnt.
The Egyptians said there must be a detailed and scheduled aircraft to airlift them. They also want a strong commitment that they would ensure total evacuation of all Nigerians coming in from Sudan. Nigerian Ambassador to Egypt, Ambassador Nuru Rimi said this yesterday.
No fewer than 637 Nigerians have been stranded at the Aswan border for the past four days as the Egyptians authorities denied them passage.
He said: “Approval to be granted for the evacuation of Nigerians through Egypt, with stringent conditions and guidelines. Details and schedule of the Aircraft. Capacity of the Aircraft.
“Strong Pledge that once our citizens depart the border, they will be conveyed directly to the designated Airport.
“Comprehensive List of the Evacuees, with passport numbers.
“Valid Travel Documents (Passport or ETC)
“Presence of Nigeria Government Officials at the points of Embarkation.
