Nigerian student fleeing from Ukraine alleges discrimination against Africans on the trains
A Nigerian student trying to flee the war in Ukraine has taken to Twitter to allege racism and deliberate discrimination against black Africans in the embattled country.
The man, Nze, tweeted blow-by-blow account of his efforts to cross to Poland where he believes he can find safety from the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Tweeting with @nzekiev, he said: “In the train stations here in Kyiv, children first, women second, white men third, then the remaining is occupied by Africans. This means that we have waited for many hours for trains here & couldn’t enter because of this.
Majority of Africans are still waiting to get to Lviv.”
Continuing, he said: “We had to start shouting and pushing African women to the train, so they had no other option than to allow them since they said women and children first.
It wasn’t the case earlier.”
“You know the funniest part? We all knew that we will be the last to enter, so we always wait until they’re satisfied with boarding their people. Then the remaining small space, we Africans rush in like wild animals and pile up like luggages. 8-9hrs journey.
“Train to Poland got here, I and other two Africans entered first, few mins later, the police came in and dragged us down from our cabin. Only Ukrainians are allowed. I don’t blame them, though. I blame African leaders.”
His tweets have inflamed passion online, with some slamming Ukranian officials for racism and war crime.
Nwa Bia Ije🇳🇬@fazfunkie, wrote: “The system was built exclusively for Their people! Some of them look at you with so much disdain! Like why are you even here!
Now if this had been in Nigeria? The security operatives will allow the yt foreigner in that train before you Nigerian!! It’s our reality!!!”
Journalist, David Hundeyin, wrote: “Under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and Protocol 1 (1977) of the Geneva Convention relating to the Crime of Apartheid, both Poland and Ukraine have spent all day committing war crimes against African students.
Never added a Ukraine flag to my bio, and never will.”
He added: “Even at its lowest moments, humanity manages to find ways to sink lower. Racism is some people’s air and food, even in wartime.
If Africa ever becomes a better place in our lifetimes, we will not forget these moments.
@PLinNigeria
We will not forget.”
