By Achile Danjuma
Nigerian nationals are confirmed to be among over 140 people injured in a large-scale missile and drone attack launched by Iran against the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The assault, which targeted what Iran described as US-linked assets, left at least six people dead.
The UAE Ministry of Defence reported that its air defense systems intercepted numerous ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran late on Friday, March 14. In an official statement, the ministry detailed the engagement, stating its units successfully intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest wave of attacks.
The ministry confirmed the attack resulted in six fatalities and 141 injuries, including among foreign nationals residing in the Gulf nation. It described the assault as a “blatant Iranian aggression,” adding that since the onset of the recent hostilities, UAE air defenses have engaged a staggering total of 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran.
While the ministry did not specify the exact locations of the casualties, it released a list of affected nationalities. The deceased include citizens of the UAE, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The extensive list of injured individuals comprises residents from dozens of countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, and Sweden.
The continued missile and drone campaign by Iran across parts of the Gulf has drawn sharp protests from neighboring countries. The strikes are widely viewed as retaliation for recent military operations by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets. The late Friday and early Saturday assault also targeted other Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with some attacks causing infrastructural damage.
The UAE is a major destination for Nigerian citizens for travel, work, and transit.
Amid the escalating violence, Nigerians stranded across several Gulf countries have appealed to the Federal Government to prepare for potential repatriation flights should the security situation deteriorate further. The exact number of Nigerians currently in Iran or other conflict-affected Middle Eastern countries remains unclear.
However, officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Iran have taken proactive steps, recently escorting a group of Nigerian citizens out of the country via the Armenian border. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), provided an update on Wednesday, relaying 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,” the statement said. It further noted that, so far, no Nigerian in Iran has been directly affected by the war, and government officials remain stationed at the border to receive and assist all those who wish to leave.