NiDCOM Chairman, Dabiri-Erewa Reacts Video Of Nigerians Detained In Libya Crying For Help

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has reacted to a video of Nigerians allegedly stranded and detained in an unknown prison in Libya.

NiDCOM has launched an investigation into the situation after the detainees called on the Nigerian government for help.

A video circulating on social media shows hundreds of women and children confined in a compound, shouting “Freedom!” repeatedly.

The footage also shows a malnourished child with a swollen stomach, alongside women and an elderly man lamenting their dire conditions.

A protesting woman in the video claimed that people from other countries had already left the area, while the Nigerians stayed behind to protect their country’s reputation.

She warned that if the Nigerian government did not act, they would be forced to take matters into their own hands and escape.

“Look at where we are sleeping. We are suffering. We want freedom. We need your help, or else we will bust this place.

“All other nationals are running away, but we, Nigerians, stay calm; we are doing so just because we want to protect our name, we want to protect our country.

“If you won’t take any steps, we are going to take steps with our hands. We need freedom,” the woman warned.

In a video released to clarify the situation, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, she requested the President’s approval for a large-scale evacuation of Nigerians stranded in Libya.

According to her, Buhari gave his approval and a high-level delegation was dispatched to Libya to enter detention centers and bring Nigerians home.

Dabiri-Erewa recounted witnessing some of the most disturbing scenes in her life during the mission, including a Nigerian woman who had been raped and forced to undergo an abortion.

The NiDCOM chairman noted that nearly 10,000 Nigerians were rescued and repatriated to Nigeria.

However, despite the efforts to bring them home, many of those rescued end up attempting to return to Libya.

To support her claims, Dabiri-Erewa cited an Aljazeera documentary that reported that about 45 percent of Nigerians evacuated from Libya try to make their way back.

She further explained that the International Organisation for Migration has continued to evacuate Nigerians regularly, with about 15 flights bringing around 3,000 migrants back home between January and September of this year alone.

Despite these ongoing efforts, Dabiri-Erewa expressed frustration, saying, “And yet, we still have our people going there.”

She emphasized that she has repeatedly warned Nigerians about the dangers of illegal migration, but many continue to embark on risky journeys through Libya.

Dabiri-Erewa also urged anyone with information on the location of the Nigerians shown in the recent viral video to come forward, so they can be rescued.

She called on Nigerians to raise awareness about the activities of human traffickers, stressing that many who choose these routes pay large sums to traffickers who guide them to these dangerous destinations.

Watch the video below:

– Nigerian women reportedly locked up in a prison in Libya cries out for help.

pic.twitter.com/UQLeJyBnUj

— Postsubman (@Postsubman) September 10, 2024

My comments on the viral video of Nigerians in Libya . I cannot verify how recent the video is but here is my take pic.twitter.com/qXlRItSDhr

— abikedabiri (@abikedabiri) September 10, 2024

I was part of a team that went inside Libyan Prison to rescue over https://t.co/sGVTbF7E2S Nigerians in Libya, with a warning that they should desist . But they still return . Not even sure this is a new video because 140 were rescued again a few weeks ago by @IOM_Nigeria . The… https://t.co/DE6uS1O8Fm

— abikedabiri (@abikedabiri) September 10, 2024

Dear ⁦@RealQueenBee__⁩ . This is a visual of me in Libya .We rescued over 10.000 Nigerians from Libya with a warning that they should avoid Libya . But they still return.140 were returned via ⁦@IOM_Nigeria⁩ again a few weeks Confirm how recent this video is pic.twitter.com/uyWnNv3tOr

— abikedabiri (@abikedabiri) September 10, 2024

KanyiDaily recalls that Abike Dabiri-Erewa recently called for arrest of a woman based in Canada, Amaka Patience Sunnberger, who threatened to poison Nigerians living there.