171 Nigerians who returned to Nigeria from Libya came back with stories of punishment and suffering.
NAN reports that the landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday, February 21.
The returnees represent another batch of Nigerians who came back from Libya.
Miss Gift Peters who was one of the returnees lamented that she got to Libya 11 month ago after she was tricked into believing she was being taken to Italy.
READ ALSO: Nigerian returnees from Libya narrate tales of abuse, violence
The Delta lady who spoke in tears said they were sometimes forced to take urine as a form of punishment.
She said: “When I got to Libya, it was not in my mind to continue with the journey. So I asked the person that took me to return me to Nigeria but he started maltreating me and sold me to someone who has a connection house in Libya where we were maltreated daily.
“If we don’t want to work, they will start maltreating us. They will do you something that you will wish to die.
Nigerians who returned from Libya narrate tales of woes
“Those who they sold us to, sometimes, use iron and start burning us. At times, they will instruct our fellow ladies to urinate for us to drink.”
She explained that she was fortunate to contact her family members in Nigeria which facilitated her return but that some of those who went with her on the journey were not so lucky.
It was reported that they were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons and the Police after their return was orchestrated by the International Organisation for Migration and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya.
Nigerians who returned from Libya narrate tales of woes
Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa who is the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and diaspora applauded the safe return of the returnees.
She said: “Like I told them, they are not criminals. These are people that have gone in search for greener pastures. However, it turned out to be a terrible experience for them.
“They shouldn’t be ashamed of themselves. Now they are back home and Mr President has personally conveyed his greetings to them and to let them know that they are back in Nigeria and there is no better time than now.
“Times are tough, things are difficult but your country is the best place to be.”
She explained that Federal Government, IOM and some states have put up programmes in place to rehabilitate Nigerians who volunteered to return from Libya.
Nigerians who returned from Libya narrate tales of woes
READ ALSO: 163 stranded Nigerians arrive Lagos airport from Libya (photos)
“The question is, how long are we going to keep evacuating them? So there is going to be another evacuation and a final one when we will tell Nigerians who are stranded in Libya to come back home.
“After that, it will be difficult getting IOM to do the evacuation.
Nigerians who returned from Libya narrate tales of woes
“A lot of them don’t know where they are going to. There is a lot of ignorance here. Some of them are trafficked and they get there with nothing.
“The message here is that illegal migration is not worth it because as tough as the country is today, you are better off here than being in those places.”
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