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Israel-Hezbollah crisis: No Nigerian life lost in Lebanon – FG

Fumilayo Adekunle
A woman reads the Koran in front of the rubble of buildings which were levelled on September 27 by Israeli strikes that targeted and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut’s southern suburbs, on September 29, 2024. – Israel killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a huge air strike in Lebanon, dealing the movement a seismic blow that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 28 called a “turning point” for his country. (Photograph: AFP)

The Federal Government has said that no Nigerian life has been lost in Lebanon, amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

As Israel increases strikes in Lebanon, the Nigerian government said it has commenced preparation for the evacuation of Nigerians in Lebanon.

In a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, on Saturday the government said that the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon has been actively working to protect its nationals.

“The Federal Government has begun preparations to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon.

“It is pertinent to mention that no Nigerian life has been lost since the beginning of the conflict,” the statement noted.

The statement underscored the government’s efforts to monitor and secure the welfare of Nigerians in the conflict zone.

While the situation in Lebanon remains volatile, the embassy had advised Nigerians as early as August 2024 to voluntarily evacuate, with commercial flights still available.

It added that Nigerian citizens in southern Lebanon, one of the most dangerous areas, have been relocated to safer regions such as Beirut, with assistance from community leaders.

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“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to reassure Nigerians that the Federal Government is engaging with relevant stakeholders and remains committed to the protection and safety of Nigerian nationals, as Government is making preparations to evacuate them back home,” the statement added.

Rapidly escalating violence in recent days saw intense Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon as ground troops conducted raids near the border, transforming nearly a year of cross-border exchanges into full-blown war.

In the first reported Israeli air strike on the northern Tripoli region in the current flare-up, Palestinian militant group Hamas said “Zionist bombardment” of the Beddawi refugee camp killed a commander, Saeed Attallah Ali, as well as his wife and two daughters on Saturday.

The escalation, which this week included Iran’s second-ever missile attack on Israel, intensifying Hezbollah rocket fire and strikes claimed by Iran allies from as far away as Yemen, comes just days before the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.