Nigerians were among dozens of people injured after Iran launched another wave of missile and drone attacks targeting United States-linked assets in the United Arab Emirates, leaving at least six people dead and more than 140 others wounded.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems intercepted several ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles fired from Iran in what authorities described as a major escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In a statement, the ministry said its defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones launched during the latest assault on March 14.
According to the ministry, the attack killed six people and injured 141 others, including foreign nationals living and working in the Gulf country.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry said.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran.”
Authorities said the fatalities included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Although the ministry did not disclose the exact locations where the casualties occurred, it confirmed that the injured included residents from several countries, among them Nigeria.
Others affected include nationals from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also includes Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
Iran has reportedly continued missile and drone attacks across parts of the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring countries.
The strikes are believed to be in retaliation for recent military operations carried out by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday, with some attacks causing infrastructural damage.
UAE is a popular travel, work and transit destinations for Nigerian citizens.
Meanwhile, Nigerians stranded across several Gulf countries have appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to prepare repatriation flights in case the security situation deteriorates further.
It remains unclear how many Nigerians are currently trapped in Iran or other Middle Eastern countries affected by the ongoing conflict.
But last week, officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Iran escorted some Nigerians out of the Middle East country via Armenian border.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), gave this update on Wednesday, citing a statement from the Commission’s Chairman and CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
“Some willing Nigerians seeking safety have been escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Iran for safe passage.
“A statement by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said, so far, no Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as government officials remain at the border to receive all who want to leave,” the statement read.
