About 600 Nigerian students stranded in war-ravaged Iran have appealed to the federal government to facilitate their evacuation from the country as the United States (US) and Israeli forces intensify their aerial bombardment.
A student, who did not want his name mentioned in print, told LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday that he represented the students of Ahlul Bayt University in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and other universities across the country, adding that they had been evicted from their hostels since the war began.
He said, “I am writing on behalf of the students of Ahlul Bayt University, Tehran, Iran and other universities. We are calling on the government to help evacuate us from Iran. We are about 600 students from different universities across Iran, and now we have been sent out of our hostels since the war began. Some of us are at the Iran and Armenian border, but yet to get any help from the government, as the situation is going to be worse by next week.”
The source said the students were apprehensive that all Iranian borders would be closed soon, stressing that they had reached out to the chairman of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) for help, but had not received a response yet.
The source noted that they were initially hopeful about a planned evacuation by the federal government through the Office of NIDCOM led by Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa as chairman. He, however, said that officers from the Nigerian embassy informed them that there was no evacuation for now, but that anyone whose parents buy a ticket, they will facilitate their visa to cross into Armenia and get to the airport.
He, therefore, pleaded with the government not to abandon them in this moment of crisis, as nationals of other countries had been evacuated, adding that Qom city, which has the highest number of Nigerians, was attacked, and it was not clear if they were affected.
“We are the only ones remaining around the border and the neighbouring communities, as we cannot go back to our school again due to the crisis,” he said.
Reacting to this urgent call, Gabriel Odu of the Press and Protocol Unit of NIDCOM said the government has plans to evacuate Nigerians not just from Iran but also from other countries in the troubled Middle East when it becomes more feasible.
He advised the students to make use of the phone lines and other contact details provided by the federal government to connect with Nigerian missions.
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