Sudan: NIDCOM Denies Allegation Of Ethnic Bias

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has debunked accusations of ethnic bias during the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Sudan.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NIDCOM described the allegation as a fabricated lie from the pit of hell.

Several sources alleged that the Chairman/CEO, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri- Erewa, prevented Igbos from boarding buses hired by the Federal Government to evacuate stranded Nigerians from the war-torn Khartoum in Sudan.

NIDCOM clarified the reason why stranded Nigerians were grouped according to their states of origin saying “Reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff on 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, 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, were to be picked up, have all been moved in 40 buses either towards Port Sudan or towards Egyptian borders”.

The commission however said “if some arrived after the stipulated time or did not show up at the point of pick up, they can’t blame it on any one”.