The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun evacuating Nigerian citizens from Iran as fighting in the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel intensifies.
Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri‑Erewa, said Nigerian officials were escorting citizens willing to leave Iran across the Armenia border to ensure their safety.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dabiri-Erewa said Nigerian embassy officials were already stationed at the border to receive and assist those fleeing the conflict.
“Willing Nigerians are being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage,” she said.
She added that, so far, no Nigerian casualties had been recorded since the outbreak of the war.
The NiDCOM boss did not disclose the total number of Nigerians currently living in Iran or how many have been evacuated since the operation began.
The evacuation comes as the war enters its 11th day, with heavy casualties reported across the region.
According to Iran’s Iranian Ministry of Health, more than 1,300 people have been killed in the country following air strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces, while over 12,000 others have been injured.
Iranian authorities said victims ranged in age from eight months to 88 years, with about 200 women among those killed.
Several healthcare workers were also reportedly affected, including doctors, nurses and emergency responders.
In Israel, the Israel Ministry of Health said at least 13 people have been killed and nearly 2,000 others wounded following retaliatory Iranian attacks.
Meanwhile, the conflict has also spilled into neighbouring Lebanon, where authorities reported hundreds of deaths and more than half a million people displaced amid clashes involving Hezbollah.
U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this week that the war could end “very soon,” though he indicated it was unlikely to happen within the week.
However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rejected the suggestion, saying the outcome of the conflict would be determined by Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also ruled out any ceasefire negotiations while military attacks by the United States and Israel continue.
“We are on the eleventh day of military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime. We did not start this war,” Baghaei said during a press briefing.
Nigerian authorities say evacuation efforts will continue as long as the security situation remains uncertain.
