Ukraine war: ‘I spent 24 hours in cold’, Nigerian evacuee narrates experience

Wegwu Kella, a student of Dnipro Medical Institute, Ukraine, has narrated her experience before evacuation. Kella, who was among the 415 Nigerian evacuees that arrived Abuja, via Max Air, from Romania, said she is having a sweet-bitter feeling. Land seizure: ABU lecturers demand withdrawal of El-Rufai’s academic certificate ‘Why we took up arms’, Turji, other […]

Wegwu Kella, a student of Dnipro Medical Institute, Ukraine, has narrated her experience before evacuation.

Kella, who was among the 415 Nigerian evacuees that arrived Abuja, via Max Air, from Romania, said she is having a sweet-bitter feeling.

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While sharing her experiences over the bombing and difficulties she went through before getting to the border, and her final departure to Nigeria, she said: “Ukraine still remains my home”.

“Leaving Ukraine is a bitter-sweet feeling. I’m not quite happy about it because I left school… but at least, I’m safe and going home to my loved ones,” she said while fielding questions from journalists as she arrived at Abuja.

On the experience in Ukraine before the bombing started in the capital city, she said, “I was actually in another city two weeks before the bombing started. On social media, they were warning us that they would invade. So, two weeks ago, I left the capital city.

“When I was leaving to the border, I had to spend 24 hours in the cold. I had to walk for six straight hours and had to spend four hours more getting to the border gate, but they were just letting only the Mums and the kids in.

“So, I had to go back to get another bus and spent another 24 hours to cross the border again, before I made it this time around.”

Kella said she was lucky to catch the first flight back to Nigeria.

“I didn’t know how I got here actually because I was going to miss this flight, I didn’t get to the embassy yesterday to write my name down and I was told that the plane was filled up, but waited to see if any opportunity will arise.

“Luckily for me, I was right in front of the line and, even when I came I was literally the last person, and I boarded. Yeah! I’m here now,” she said in excitement.

Kella thanked the Nigerian government for making it possible to come home and reunite with her loved ones.