Nigerian evacuees who fled crisis-ridden Sudan have been airlifted from Aswan Airport in Egypt.
Nigerian Air Force plane, NAF C-130 aircraft has departed Aswan.
It is expected to touch down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, by 2340hrs (11.40 pm).
The Egyptian authorities insisted that all the evacuees must leave at once.
A source said that the evacuees were allowed into the Egyptian airport between last night and the early hours of Wednesday.
The source added that about 25 extra passengers were added to the NAF C-130, against its normal capacity of 80, to meet the condition, but there were still others that could not get seats, hence the journey was initially postponed.
“NAF’s pilot had agreed to accept them on the condition that they leave without their luggage.
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The Nigerian officials sought the opinion of parents and family members who agreed and said seeing their children is the priority.
But few others insisted that they must leave with their luggage containing their credentials.”
Eventually, extra passengers were added to the NAF aircraft without their luggage.
The Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-erewa, posted a video of the returnees on her official Twitter account.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
