THE Federal Government has confirmed that no Nigerian life has been lost in Lebanon, amidst the intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
As Israel continues its strikes in Lebanon, the Nigerian government has announced that it is preparing to evacuate its citizens from the country.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe today, the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon has been working to safeguard its nationals.
“The Federal Government has initiated plans to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon.
“It is important to note that no Nigerian life has been lost since the conflict began,” the statement emphasized.
The government also highlighted its efforts to monitor the situation closely and ensure the safety of Nigerians in the affected areas.
Although the situation in Lebanon remains unstable, the embassy had advised Nigerians as early as August 2024 to consider voluntary evacuation, as commercial flights were still operating.
Nigerians in southern Lebanon, one of the most dangerous regions, have been relocated to safer areas like Beirut with the help of community leaders.
The Ministry reassured Nigerians that the government is in communication with relevant stakeholders and is committed to ensuring the protection and safe return of its citizens.
The increase of violence in recent days has seen Israeli forces intensifying attacks on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, with ground troops conducting operations near the border. This has transformed months of cross-border exchanges into a full-scale war.
In the first Israeli airstrike on the northern Tripoli region, Palestinian militant group Hamas reported that the “Zionist bombardment” of the Beddawi refugee camp killed a commander, Saeed Attallah Ali, along with his wife and two daughters.
The conflict has escalated further this week, with Iran launching its second-ever missile attack on Israel, intensified Hezbollah rocket fire, and strikes from Iranian allies as far away as Yemen, just days before the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.