SAN FRANCISCO, November 23, (THEWILL) – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another 174 Nigerians from Libya.
The returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) onboard Al Buraq Air at 1:10 am on Friday.
They comprised 61 female adults, four female children and eight female infants, 91 male adults, six male children and four male infants and were received by the Acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA South West Zonal Officer, Segun Afolayan and other Federal Government Agencies.
While receiving them, Afolayan advised the returnees to be mindful of information about getting rich quick, especially when it involves travelling outside the country illegally.
Narrating his ordeal, one of the returnees, Chukwudi Onyemechie, 30, from Anambra, said he was a successful auto tyres dealer at Ladipo Market in Lagos before he was deceived and promised of a better life in Europe.
According to him, a man convinced him that he could help him travel to France and then linked him to his friend in Libya.
Afterwards, he (Chukwudi) sold off his wares and took off to Benin Republic from where his journey to Libya began.
He said, “I was told that that the journey would be by road but I never knew that it was a deadly and dangerous route. I entered Libya town where I was taken to a camp controlled by Nigerians where I spent three months in detention.
“My trafficker organised my detention in other that I would be forced to pay him money.
“He asked me to pay some amount to another man who denied that I had paid. My trafficker claimed he settled the man and I had to double the amount.
“I left Nigeria in June, 2017, I experienced unstable and dangerous life over there.
“After struggling to cross unsuccessfully, I was helped to get to IOM office in Libya who helped me back to Nigeria today.
“I am proud to be a Nigerian, though, we have challenges, but we are better and I am happy to be back.
“My advice to youth is that they should never think of traveling to Libya for anything, if you must travel, it is better to take regular routes and seek proper information before taking a decision.
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