Another batch of Nigerians who fled crisis-ridden Sudan has returned to the country barley 24 hours after the first batch of returnees arrived.
A total of 130 evacuees returned to the country on Friday afternoon.
It was gathered that the 130 Nigerians; 128 females and two males, were the first evacuees from Port Sudan and the flight arrived 3:22pm.
In a earlier video via Twitter on Friday morning, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan, Safiu Olaniyan, said it had been tough, expressing joy that some of the students would arrive in Nigeria.
Olaniyan noted that the airlift was arranged by the Federal Government.
He said: “Let me congratulate you all for being the first evacuees from Port Sudan to Nigeria. It has been tough but at long last, we are on our way home.
“We pray for us. We are still here. Some of your brothers and sisters are still here. Very soon, they will be joining you.
“This is the arrangement the Federal Government made for you. Compliment what the government has done. We still have a long way to go. I wish you a safe flight.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said 1,700 stranded Nigerians under the government’s care await evacuation back to Nigeria.
Recall that the Air Peace flight carrying over 270 Nigerian students from the Aswan Airport in Egypt landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday.
The NAF C-130H jet also conveying about 80 persons also touched down moments later.
After over a week of assurances by the Federal Government, the Nigerian evacuees were finally airlifted home, escaping the deadly conflict in Sudan.
Since 15 April, Sudan has been plunged into armed conflict with clashes between rival factions of the North African nation’s military government breaking out in western Sudan, in the capital city of Khartoum, and in the Darfur region.
Hundreds have since been killed while thousands of others have suffered injuries.
See pictures below:
They returned two days after the first set of evacuees came back to the country via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday.