Nigerians, other nationals stranded in Afghanistan as chaos descends on Kabul airport
Pascal Oparada
There is total chaos in Kabul airport in Afghanistan as millions try to flee the country after a terrorist group, the Taliban took control of the country on Saturday.
Video footage posted by NBC News shows a massive crowd of Afghans and other nationals, including Nigerians, making a last-minute dash to leave Afghanistan before the Taliban imposes Sharia law in the country.
There were sounds of gunshots as the crowd tried to board planes out of the country.
An eyewitness said US troops fired into the air to disperse a crowd of men and women who were trying to board a plane.
Panicking Afghans and other nationals arrived at Kabul airport only to discover that Civil Aviation authorities have closed the civilian side of the airport until ‘further notice,’ the NBC reports.
By Monday morning, crowds continued to surge into the airport hoping for a flight out of the country.
Daily Mail reports that three people suspected to be stowaways fell to their death from a plane as they made a desperate attempt to leave Afghanistan on Sunday.
Eight people died at Kabul airport where thousands of desperate Afghans have clambered onto moving military planes and U.S. troops have fired warning shots into the air amid a chaotic scramble to flee the Taliban, Daily Mail reports.
An Afghan woman live-streamed the chaos at the airports as she panicked, saying “help us, they are coming to kill us.”
The Nigerian government is yet to make any statement about plans to evacuate citizens stranded in Afghanistan, amid worries that the takeover by the Taliban may strengthen insurgents in the northern parts of the country.
Terrorist group, Taliban took over Kabul, the last major city to fall in Afghanistan on Saturday.
American and NATO forces began withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years in the country in what many have called a misadventure by America.
American Embassy staff are operating from the Kabul airport on Sunday and helicopters airlifted many other Americans as they left the country after the Taliban said those who want to stay should register and agree to abide by Sharia law.
Americans are divided over the withdrawal of their forces, with some blaming President Joe Biden for the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.
It is estimated that America spent over $2 trillion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan since Osama bin Laden-led Al-Qaeda carried out terrorist attacks in America in 2001.
Biden defended the withdrawal, saying Afghan forces have been trained by the American and allied forces to take charge of their country.
