The warning is coming in the wake of reports that the warring parties have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire.
Two days ago, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, promised Nigerians that the country had concluded arrangements to pull out over 5,000 stranded citizens in Sudan by road.
Onyeama gave the assurance when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ on Sunday, exactly one week after intense fighting broke out between two rival forces in the North Eastern African country, which shares its border with seven others namely Libya, Egypt, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
As of Sunday, Saudi Arabia had evacuated 91 of its citizens along with 66 nationals from 12 other countries which included Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada, and Burkina Faso, from Sudan.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the coordinator of The Natives, Smart Edwards, appealed to the foreign ministry, the federal government, politicians and high ranking ambassadors to use their diplomatic contacts to ensure the safety of Nigerians residing in Sudan, particularly in Khartoum.
He said: “Save our helpless students and youths, please. Also ensure that no life is lost. We recognise efforts put in place so far but we demand that more are done and done urgently. We, the Natives, believe that Nigerian government has capacity to evacuate our brothers and sisters trapped in Sudan, and we are urging all the stakeholders to ensure that no life of a Nigerian is lost in the ongoing crisis.”
Continuing, Edward expressed confidence that the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would promote peaceful coexistence, fairness and ensure justice to every segment of the country.
While calling on Nigerians to learn a lesson of peace in the ongoing Sudan experience, the activist stated that no sacrifice was too much to ensure a peaceful coexistence in the country.
The group also called on the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and other world leaders to intervene in the crisis and give no room to negligence until peace is restored to the nation.
