The first batch of Nigerians evacuated by the Federal Government from the war torn Central African Republic have arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

Receiving the 365 returnees, officials of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the Nigerian Army and the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the evacuation of Nigerians from the country continues for the next six days.

Channels Television correspondent, Gloria Ume-Ezeoke who was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday night, reported that hundreds of stranded Nigerians arrived from Bangui, the capital of the CAR with anxiety written all over their faces.

The Acting Director of Planning, Forecasting and Research, NEMA, Alhassan Nuhu, told the reporter: “From here we will take them to the camp, where they will bath and be given food and non-food items. State Emergency Management Agencies in the respective states have been contacted. They will be on ground tomorrow, to start sorting them out. They will be conveyed to their respective states in honour, respect and dignity.”

Pending the promised arrival of the emergency management operatives from the states, airport officials were seen trying to sort the returnees, interrogating them in order to get more details that will aid their settling back home, but the exercise was difficult as many of them do not speak English.

An indigene of Borno State, Alhaji Gani, who lost his wife in the crisis, spoke to our correspondent in deep grief. He revealed how his wife was killed, claiming that the supporters of the former C.A.R President were responsible for the killing.

While recounting the sufferings they went through before they could make their way to the Nigerian Embassy, he complained that when they finally got there, they were not well taken care of by the embassy officials and they also did not meet the Consular.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, however said: “The Federal Government is very responsive and sensitive to the needs of Nigerians, not just in Nigeria but wherever in the world.”

He stated that the Government went to work immediately news broke that the crisis in the C.A.R had escalated.

The number of people displaced by fighting between Muslim and Christian militias and vigilantes  in the C.A.R has doubled in the past month owing to increasing violence.