In a significant development, the Nigerian Mission in Libya successfully facilitated the release of a group of forty Nigerian irregular migrants from the Bir Al-Ghanam detention facility.
These individuals had been unlawfully held in detention for a duration of two months. Among the group were 34 females and six males, who were apprehended at the Bir Al-Ghanam detention facility located approximately 150 miles away from Tripoli, the capital city of Libya.
Ambassador Kabiru Musa, Charge D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, revealed that the migrants had been deceived by their would-be traffickers into traveling to Libya in search of better opportunities, only to be subjected to exploitation and forced labor.
The ambassador stressed that the Nigerian Mission would continue to provide support and care for the released nationals until they are repatriated.
During their interaction with the released individuals, Mr. Musa emphasized the importance of returning home and avoiding such perilous journeys in the future. He also urged them to caution their fellow compatriots about the hazards of irregular migration. Additionally, he encouraged the victims to come forward with information about their traffickers and agents in both Nigeria and Libya, to ensure that these individuals are apprehended and held accountable for their crimes against humanity.
Mr. Musa further stated that the Nigerian Mission would continue to meet the needs of the released individuals, including provisions for food, accommodation, clothing, and medical care, until they can be safely repatriated through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The federal government of Nigeria has been actively collaborating with the IOM and Libyan authorities to combat the menace of irregular migration, acknowledging Libya as a transit route for human trafficking.
Furthermore, the federal government has made a commitment to prevent any of its citizens from being stranded in Libya, conducting various evacuation efforts in cooperation with the IOM to repatriate Nigerians who find themselves in such circumstances.
(NAN)
