The Department for Combating Illegal Migration in Libya’s Southern Region has repatriated 166 Nigerian migrants to Nigeria.
The operation, conducted from Sabha International Airport, was supported by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM).
This was made known by Migrant Rescue Watch on their X handle on Wednesday, disclosing that the DCIM (Southern Region), with IOM support, repatriated 166 migrants of Nigerian nationality via Sabha International Airport.
Recently, SaharaReporters reported how a Nigerian woman in her early 20s, simply identified as Omowunmi, sought immediate help from the Nigerian government to evacuate her from Libya.
In a video posted on Facebook, the woman who stated she is from Ondo State said “she is dying” after she was left stranded and neglected by her guardian in the North African country.
She narrated that she was suffering from ulcer and that her guardian started having issues with her when she requested money for treatment.
She added that the guardian left her on the “dangerous streets” of Libya, rendering her homeless and without anyone to help her.
She, therefore, begged fellow Nigerians and the Nigerian government to come to her aid.
She said, “My name is Omowunmi from Ondo State. I am very sick and I need to come back to Nigeria. I need the help of Nigerians. Please have mercy on me. I want to go back to Nigeria. Don’t let me die in Libya.”
She said her illness stopped her from eating regularly.
She continued: “See how I have turned skinny. I have an ulcer and it is affecting me so that it is eating my intestines. I cannot eat well for a month now. My guardian said I ran away from home but that is a lie. I have already paid the money (expenses incurred to move from Nigeria to Libya).
“One day, I was sick and I told her that I was sick and I wanted to go and take care of myself. And I needed money, my money was with her. I told her to send my money to my mum and give me the rest to treat myself.
“But she asked me to go and she took my SIM card. After that time, I was unable to reach her. I later connected with her earlier this year. I begged her and even my biological mum did the same but she refused.
“She chased me out around 9 pm. She owed me money and I requested it but she declined. She refused to follow me to the embassy to get registered. She refused. She left me stranded in Libya. I have spent all my money. Please, don’t let me die in Libya. I was not like this when I arrived in Libya. But I have suffered.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, advised the woman to approach the country’s embassy in Libya for immediate help.
(Sahara Reporters)
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