Medical student dies few days after fleeing Ukraine to Nigeria
After the invasion of Russian military in Ukraine on February 24th, forcing both citizens and foreigners to flee the war-thorn country, a Nigerian medical student, Huzaifa Habibu, that fled Ukraine has died two weeks after returning to Nigeria.
According to Habibu’s father, Habibu Halilu Modaci , his son died after complaining of discomfort and loss of appetite. He was due to graduate from a Ukrainian university in 2023.
“Alhamdu Lilah, God gives and take away life, and that’s how he wanted it to happen, there is no doubt about it,” Modaci told BBC.
“Had it been he died in Ukraine so many things would be said about him, that he was either killed by the Russian bombardment or had an accident or even accidentally shot and killed by the Ukrainian Army.”
Habibu was studying medicine in Ukraine before Russian forces invaded the European country in February.
READ ALSO: PMB approves $8.5 million for evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine
Nigeria’s foreign affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said there were about 5,600 Nigerian students in Ukraine and an estimated 8,000 Nigerian citizens in the country before the war.
The Nigerian government said it has evacuated more than 1000 students from Ukraine.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said 3,489,644 Ukrainians had fled the country since Russia invaded on February 24th, a figure up 100,600 on Sunday’s update.
“Over the last four weeks, the world has watched in disbelief. Countless lives have been lost while millions of others have been completely upended,” UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said.
“As if to counter the despair, we have also witnessed overwhelming acts of welcome and compassion as neighbouring countries, particularly local responders, have opened their hearts and homes to Ukrainians.” He said.
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