Middle East War: Nigerians React On Fate Of Compatriots Stuck In Gulf Region
Nigerians have taken to the social media to express their views over the fate of their compatriots stuck in the gulf region, particularly Iran which has become a cauldron of war following the attack jointly launched by the duo of US and Israel last week.
Known for their grit and industry, most Nigerians are regarded as special breed among humans and they’re scattered across the globe, including the Middle East, in search of greener pastures that will better their lots. For this reason, since the outbreak of the war in Iran, which has spread to some of the gulf nations, families, friends and fellow Nigerians have expressed a full gamut of negative emotions over what’s likely to happen to their relatives and friends.
Expressing their views about the development, netizens urged the government to do everything humanly possible to airlift them back home. While most people expressed fear, anxiety and confusion, a smattering of social media users decided to bring comic relief to the tense situation. Gallows humour? Maybe.
Recall that at least one Nigerian has been identified among 122 persons injured by the interception of Iranian ballistic missiles in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UAE’s ministry of defence did not specify the number of nationalities affected per country as death tolls mount.
Meanwhile, here are some of the netizens’ reaction to the development
@adebanti wrote: May our efforts to find what to eat never take us to where we will be eaten. I can’t just imagine what Nigerians in those countries where bombs and missiles are flying will be thinking now. I hope the Federal Government will do something asap.
@Iremide wrote: God that never sleeps nor slumbers will keep them all safe. My heart skips a beat anytime I read an update about the situation of the Middle East.
@Aliyuyusuf: Insha Allah they return home safe. Na the government I blame of not for leadership failure what will Nigerians find go Iran of all places. But our leaders keep making policies that push us out every day. It now anywhere but Nigeria for the citizens of the country. Imagine people now celebrate the fact that they’re leaving Nigeria for Libya, South Africa etc.
@Jadesola: What is attractive about a country that sounds like Iranu (nonsense)? Why do our people go to a country where they use restrictive Islam laws to govern their people? O ga o. I understand people leaving the country for Saudi Arabia, and Qatar but Iran… Tufiakwa!
@ChidiK: If those Nigerians stuck in the Middle East are eventually airlifted home , I will envy them o. At least they will enjoy Nigeria money small now
I have never benefiter anything from the Nigerian government since they gave birth to me. But these Middle East Nigerians will enjoy free flight home. That’s something to be happy about. No be so?
@Harry B curtly wrote: They should just marry some of the women among those trapped in the Middle East to the new Islam leader. Afterall, Mojtaba lost a wife to the Israeli/American deadly strikes.
Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has assured willing Nigerians in Iran are being safely escorted across the Armenia border by officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran.
This assurance was given on Wednesday in a statement the agency posted on X,
According to NIDCOM the move was to “ensure smooth and secure passage for those wishing to leave the country”.
“No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the conflict so far, with government officials remaining stationed at the border to receive and assist all evacuees,” the statement reads.
“The Federal Government is vigilant and effectively responding to the safety and well-being of Nigerians across the world,”
Also reacting on the efforts by the government to safely bring back home Nigerians in the Middle East, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of NIDCOM, on Wednesday said Nigeria would begin repatriating its citizens stranded in the gulf region once “the airspace opens”.
