Nigerian students are fleeing their residences for safety as heavy gunshots persist in the Republic of Sudan where a fierce military confrontation between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Force, has claimed 330 lives with 3,200 injured.

The clashes had also displaced thousands of civilians who fled the capital, Khartoum, even as some foreign nations, including Japan, Uganda and Tanzania had begun evacuating their nationals as the violence which started on April 8 entered its 13th day on Friday.

Until recently, the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel al-Burhan, and the RSF paramilitary group, headed by General Mohamed Dagalo, were allies.

The students numbering over 1,262 have appealed to the Federal Government to evacuate them from Sudan.

After appraising the situation in Sudan, the Federal Government on Thursday said it had requested permission to evacuate Nigerians, especially students, trapped in the armed conflict.

It also reiterated the call for a ceasefire to enable the evacuation of foreign citizens.

However, the President of the Jigawa State Students Association in Sudan, Umar Abubakar who lived in Mujahideen, sent a voice note to our correspondent on Friday with loud gunshots in the background.

Abubakar said, “After prayer this morning, we are running for our lives. The situation is very serious. As you can hear the gunshots in the background, please pray for us.” (The PUNCH, except for rejigged headline)

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