Libya: 9,438 Nigerians so far repatriated by FG, IOM – Dabiri-Erewa

Sequel to the pleas by some trapped Nigerians in Libya via a viral video on July 8, 2018, the Federal Government of Nigeria, working with the International Organisation for Migration, has identified their detention camps and offered to bring all the willing Nigerians back home.
This cheering news was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The statement was signed by her media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
It will be recalled that a video went viral on July 8, 2018 showing some Nigerians trapped in Libya begging the Federal Government to urgently come to their rescue.
In the video, the stranded Nigerians, who veiled their faces, said their final destination was Europe but were intercepted by the security agencies in Libya and locked up in dehumanising conditions.
In the video, Nigerians were told how they are being tortured to death daily under a dehumanising condition, pleading for urgent evacuation by the Federal Government and prominent religious clergies in Nigeria.
“We are dying here. Come and rescue us. Europe is our final destination but we are trapped in Libya subjecting us to inhuman treatment,” they pleaded in the video.
Dabiri-Erewa said  information from Nigeria Mission in Tripoli confirmed that the Nigerian migrants have been traced to Osama detention Centre, Zawiya, Libya, where 116 of them have been processed online by the Nigeria Mission in Tripoli and IOM for repatriation back to Nigeria.
Regrettably, she said 24 of them have refused to come back, insisting they must get to Europe.
“Let me reiterate that President  Muhammadu Buhari will continue to ensure that all stranded migrants willing to return are brought back,” she assured.
She noted that most videos being spread through social media cannot be verified, but those with concrete information are sent to relevant agencies to look into, as in this particular video
She recalled how President Buhari early this year directed the immediate evacuation and repatriation of Nigerians from Libya back home and are still being brought back.
Besides, those that are brought back are being profiled and enrolled in various technical and vocational training centres with relevant agencies and NGOs.
Dabiri-Erewa appealed once again to Nigerian youths to avail themselves of the opportunities that abound in the country as against risking their lives to search for a non existing and deadly greener pasture abroad.
So far, about 9,438 migrants have been repatriated from Libya in collaboration with and support of the IOM.