In a series of tweets on Sunday, opposition leader Peter Obi expressed grief that many Nigerians are currently trapped in the raging war in Sudan. He charged the Muhammadu Buhari administration to “expedite all efforts to rescue about 4000 Nigerians that are mostly students in Sudan to safety.”

Mr Obi’s charge came a day after the Buhari regime gave excuses as to why Nigerians in the embattled North African nation could not be rescued.

While the Labour Party presidential candidate in the February 25 polls said he appreciated the “extreme challenges in Sudan”, he maintained that it was the statutory responsibility of the Federal Government of Nigeria “to protect Nigerians at home in Nigeria and abroad.”

He stressed that it was important that federal authorities “attend to such issues with more deserving proactiveness and commitment as the life of every Nigerian is sacred and important.”

War broke out in Sudan last week between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over disagreements about transition to civilian rule. No fewer than 400 persons have been killed in the battle.

In 2019, SAF headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burgan combined forces with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s RSF to oust former leader Bashir al-Assad. The power sharing arrangement has now broken down due to struggle for control. 

The UK, U.S. and France are some of the countries that have commenced evacuation of their citizens since the battle commenced. 

However, the Nigerian government through the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said it is impossible to evacuate Nigerians trapped in Sudan.

“The tense situation makes it gravely risky and impossible for any flights at this point in time,” Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said on Saturday.