THE Federal Government has confirmed that no Nigerian lives have been lost in Lebanon amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Eche Abu-Obe, on Saturday, October 5, in response to concerns about the safety of Nigerians living and working in the Arab nation.
The ministry assured the public that it had been closely monitoring the situation and had swiftly moved to ensure the safety of Nigerians in the country.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon, have escalated in recent days after Iran launched assaults on Israel.
The ICIR reported that Iran launched 180 projectiles towards Israel Tuesday night with several Israel cities hit by the missiles, although no casualties were recorded except some injuries.
The attack, which rattled Israel and forced many of her citizens to scamper for safety, was an immediate response to the September 27 killing of a Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, by Israel, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said after the assault.
On September 27, the Israeli military claimed to have killed Nasrallah in an airstrike targeted at the headquarters of the Lebanese armed group.
Hezbollah, led by Hassan Nasrallah since the 1990s, maintains strong ties with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and plays a crucial role in Tehran’s regional proxy network.
The conflict has resulted in widespread destruction and civilian casualties in parts of Lebanon and Israel, raising concerns about the safety of foreign nationals in the region.
Evacuation plan in place – FG
Although no Nigerian casualties have been reported, the Nigerian government emphasised that contingency plans, including potential evacuations, were in place.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the Nigerian embassy in Beirut has been directed to remain on high alert and assist Nigerian citizens in case the situation deteriorates further.
“The Embassy of Nigeria in Lebanon issued regular advisories to the community with safety instructions, and in August 2024 advised Nigerian nationals to strongly consider voluntary evacuation while the options of commercial flights remained available.
“Nigerian nationals in the South of Lebanon have also been evacuated to Beirut and other safer areas in collaboration with the leadership of the Nigerian community.
“It is pertinent to mention that no Nigerian life has been lost since the beginning of the conflict,” the statement read.
The ministry also reassured Nigerians that the federal government was engaging with relevant stakeholders and remained committed to the protection and safety of Nigerian nationals.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M