Nigerians trapped in Khersion fall sick, cry out as Russia keeps up bombardment

In spite of the federal government effort to get Nigerians in Ukraine out of the war-ravaged country, Nigerian students are still trapped in one of the city under Russian bombardment now.

The Head of the International Student Union in Kherson, Jerry Kenny, who spoke on behalf of the students, said only ceasefire agreement between the two warring countries could make them leave the city unhurt.

Kenny, in an interview with Channels TV on Monday morning, said the Kherson mayor advised the students to persuade the Nigerian government to seek a ceasefire so they could be evacuated.

“Now, we are not allowed to gain exit, that is, the green corridor because it has been captured by the Russian soldiers preventing the Ukrainian army invasion. So that is why there is no green corridor,” Kenny said.

“Moreover, the bombing, the sounds, the explosions are really terrible and now, no provisions; medical aids are limited because they (medics) attend to the casualties in the hospitals first. So for you that is very sick with a cold, you have no option but to stay indoors and look for possible means to help yourself in terms of treatment.

According to him, six of the Nigerian students have fallen ill, and there is little help by way of medical attention.

“As at this week, we had some development. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyema, called me and he gave us hope that very soon, we will be evacuated from Kherson.”

“I’ve been able to speak with the Mayor of Kherson and I approached the commander in charge of Kherson. He told me this issue is from the top and we need to communicate. We were told that the (Nigerian) government needs to liaise with the Russian people and also the Ukrainian people and they will come into an agreement for a ceasefire.”