Air Peace offers to airlift Nigerians from war-torn SudanÂ

Nigerian airline, Air Peace, has offered to airlift nationals trapped in the ongoing Sudanese civil war.

Allen Onyeama, chairman of Air Peace, stated this in his statement released to the press.

Onyeama said the airline is giving the free offer while urging the government “to get them (Nigerian nationals) to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighbouring countries bordering Sudan.”

He said, “Everything must not be left for government and the government alone. It will be a privilege and honour of tremendous pride that we will be out there to give every Nigerian stranded in Sudan a sense of pride and oneness in their country.

“We are very ready to do it immediately. No time wasting. Any action that would promote national pride, national cohesion, peace and unity, we are for it. Again, we have no apologies for believing in our nation and loving the nation despite certain national challenges.

“If they are moved to Kenya or Uganda or any other country, we will move in to get them out. Some parents have started calling on us to help. We are ready to do this again and again.”

Onyeama did a similar thing during a spate of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa previously.

It is believed that 5,000 Nigerians, many of whom are students, are trapped in the violence. Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the government is discussing with Egypt to provide a safe corridor for the evacuation through road transport.

In addition, presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu also said the government is liaising with Ethiopia on the same issue. Fighting broke out in Sudan between government forces and paramilitary troops-the Rapid Support Force.

An estimated 400 persons are believed to have died in the intense armed clash for control of the Muslim African country.