The unquenchable desire by Nigerians to seek greener pastures abroad has been on the increase in recent times. To many, it is not deliberate but circumstantial, in the light of the poor state of the country’s economy, occasioned by poor management and leadership.
Despite the ill-human treatments and horrible experiences they usually encounter in their desperate bids to travel overseas, not many stranded Nigerians have been discouraged from the dangerous adventures.
Investigations reveal that even while they are there without necessary resident permits, they engage in all sorts of menial jobs for survival, at the mercy of the immigration officers. They are often humiliated, harassed, killed or deported. For years now, that has been the practice by so many countries of the world against illegal migrants, including Nigerians.
For most Nigerians desperate to travel to Europe through illegal means, Libya is their port of call. This is because of the strategic location of the country and its proximity to the European countries.
It will be recalled that before his demise in 2011, Moammar Gadhafi had warned that without a stable Libya, migration to Europe would become uncontrollable. From the events of today, it seems his prophecy has become a reality as the Libya’s post-war crisis has helped boost a lucrative people-smuggling business.
It will be recalled that before his demise in 2011, Moammar Gadhafi had warned that without a stable Libya, migration to Europe would become uncontrollable. From the events of today, it seems his prophecy has become a reality as the Libya’s post-war crisis has helped boost a lucrative people-smuggling business. While many of the illegal migrants died on their way to Libya, those who reach southern Libya are transported through the desert to northern beaches where they board boats bound for Europe. Many die on transit, while some are abandoned at Libya without any means of survival and necessary resident permit. Many are told they would reach Italy in a matter of hours, while the truth is that a trip to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the closest European territory to the North African coast, takes at least 40 hours in small boats that move along at 5 miles per hour
While many of the illegal migrants died on their way to Libya, those who reach southern Libya are transported through the desert to northern beaches where they board boats bound for Europe. Many die on transit, while some are abandoned at Libya without any means of survival and necessary resident permit. Many are told they would reach Italy in a matter of hours, while the truth is that a trip to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the closest European territory to the North African coast, takes at least 40 hours in small boats that move along at 5 miles per hour.
No wonder in March this year, Libyan government deported 172 Nigerians due to immigration related offences. The deportation came barely four months after about 76 Nigerians were deported from three European countries including United Kingdom.The deportees comprised 166 males and six females and were brought into the country on a chartered flight.
The deportees were received by various agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) that checked their identities to ascertain their nationalities, the Police and National Agency for Protection and Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
According to the NIS, the deportees were repatriated to the country for allegedly overstaying in Libya and for other immigration offences in the North African country.
Recently, 240 Nigerians stranded in Libya were repatriated back to the country. The returnees arrived in the country on Tuesday around 3.45pm, through the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and were received by the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who assisted them with food and transport fares.
source: http://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/cover/ordeal-experiences-of-nigerian-deportees-from-overseas/
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