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Asks Nigerians for Prayers
- Safiu Kehinde
Emeka Oparah, the Group Vice President of Airtel Africa’s Corporate Communications and CSR, has called on Nigerians to pray for their countrymen currently in the Middle East as he painted scary accounts of Iran’s retaliation attack on other countries in the Gulf Region.
In what he described as whirlwind of deadly events, Oparah, in a post shared on his social media handle on Sunday, disclosed that sounds of bombs are still currently heard across Dubai where his family resides.
The Airtel Chief who also confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameni, in multiple missile attacks by the United States and Israel, said that the port in Jebeli Ali, the Airport and Palm Jumeirah have all been hit by the Iranian forces.
“It’s been a whirlwind of deadly events in the past 24 hours here in the Middle East.
“Getting off my Emirates Flight from Lusaka yesterday morning to learn of the US-Israeli onslaught on Iran was particularly scary.
“The mere thought of the possibility of being trapped in Zambia (if I had elected to spend the weekend to explore Lusaka) with my family in their own in Dubai was even more frightening.
“Well, it’s happening!!! It was not a matter of if but that of when, for anyone who’s been following the sabre-rattling rhetoric of both sides.
Indeed the Supreme Leader is no more! Israel finally got their wish, it seems.
“Expectedly the Iranian leadership is angry. And this is Ramadan, for goodness’ sake! They wouldn’t mind ending it all at this point.
“In Dubai, we are sheltering with the sounds of bombs booming around us. The port in Jebeli Ali, the Airport and Palm Jumeirah have all been hit.
There’s been a few incidents in Abu Dhabi too.” he said.
Oparah held that several people, especially expatriates across the United Arab Emirate (UAE) are already in panic, stressing that the spread of fake news further intensified the tension currently experienced.
He recounted how residents were on Saturday sent multiple messages warning of impending attacks.
“People are scared, especially expats. Others are probably used to living next door to bad neighbors.
“The disinformation and misinformation are well and truly underway from the Fake News industry. It’s unbelievable the volume of fake news flying around, which is making the situation even scarier.
“Thankfully, the UAE is a better organized than many. The government is obviously fully prepared for the situation, intercepting missiles and disseminating stealing information.
“Last night, for instance, our mobile phones were busing with alarms/alerts warning of impending missile attacks and dishing out guidelines for avoiding danger.” He said.
The Airtel chief called for prayers for Nigerian currently in the Middle East as he disclosed that his family are prepared for evacuation.
“It’s Day 2 already and we can still hear the sound of bombs in the distance while staying home and away from windows, doors and glasses with a small bag packed-just in case of an evacuation!
“I know this is a ramble, but I thought it’s good I “report from the war front”! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.” He added.