Nigerians In Libya Deportation Camp Cry Out For Help

The Nigerians that have been held in a deportation camp in Libya have cried out for help, describing the conditions in the facility—managed by a United Nations agency—as unbearable.

They, therefore, urged the Nigerian authorities and private organisations to come to their aid.

The call, which was made in a viral video, showed a number of Nigerians sandwiched in a holding facility.

They have been in the camp for seven months while awaiting deportation, according to a middle aged man who narrated their ordeal in the video.

Reacting to the viral video, the Federal Government said it has ordered an immediate investigation into the situation.

According to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the ministry has directed its Embassy in Tripoli to investigate the issue and report back.

According to Ebienfa: “We have contacted the Embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli to find out details and report to headquarters for necessary action.”

Though unconfirmed, the man said many of them have died in the process, following the maltreatment from the host authorities.

He said they were about 700 when they first got to the camp but they have been reduced to about 400.

He explained that they are dying almost on a daily basis.

He said: “These are  Nigerians as you are watching this video. It is a clear picture of what we are passing through in Libya, today being August 5.  Since over seven months, we have been in this so-called deportation camp, dying in numbers, both children, adult, teenagers and  women.

“When you take a close look on this video, it will explain the conditions that Nigerians are in, right here in Libya, in a place called Brakchat, 60 kilometres away from Sabhā. And as you are watching this video, it is at our own expense because we are restricted from using phones.

“You can see how Nigerians are lying here for over seven months. And this is how we keep lying and we keep counting dead souls on a daily basis. Even as of yesterday, we lost a child and a teenager here because of maltreatment and the punishments we are going through here.

“Please, as you are watching this video, it is a wake-up call for Nigeria’s intervention over our situation right here. And the number of Nigerians here are approximately 400 in number, though we were up to 700 when we came here. But the death rate here has declined the number to about 400 in approximation.

“Please, we have to do this video as a proof to Nigeria over what we are passing through here.

“Even the UN that is in charge of this deportation process, none of the officials is here to oversee what Nigerians are passing through here. Since we came here, none of them has come here to monitor the welfare and the well-being of the people. Even to some extent, when they come, they don’t allow them to come and see what people are passing through.

“These are Nigerians with skills and graduates in numbers; people with futures, fathers, and vibrant youth. But this is the situation we find ourselves. Please, Nigerians, corporate bodies, individuals help us.”