8 September 2009

Lagos — Libya has commenced massive deportation of Nigerians in the last five days, THISDAY has learnt. The deportees, who were seen walking in droves along Airport road towards the Domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, condemned the Libyan government for shabby treatment and also the Federal Government for its insensitivity to their plights.

As at the last count, over 600 Nigerians had been so far deported from Libya.

Some of the deportees, who volunteered to speak with THISDAY under condition of anonymity, explained that the security officials treated them as slaves.

"We were beaten like animals; treated like outcasts; and condemned to death even before any proper prosecution process could take place. More than 200 of us were packed inside a room like frozen fish," one said.

The deportees who were described as "illegal immigrants" by the Libyan authorities are mainly from Zamwia-Zamzu prison in Tripoli. After months of detention in this prison, the Libyan authorities moved these illegal immigrants to Zahba Camp.

"We were given the option to voluntarily buy our air tickets and return to Nigeria. But some of us who don't have money were given free tickets and deported to Nigeria. Each day since September 1, 2009 the Libyan authorities have been deporting 140 people from Zahba Camp alone. The camp houses both Nigerians and non-Nigerians already condemned by the Libyan authorities over issues bordering on illegal immigration," another deportee said.

When asked to describe the shabby treatment meted out to them by Libyan security officials, one of the deportees said: "We were lucky to be alive. We were beaten, treated like slaves, but we thank God that we were not summarily executed. Many Nigerians have been so killed and as we are talking many will still be killed."

But when told that the Federal Government of Nigeria had come out to deny the allegation of summary execution of Nigerians by Libyan security officials, a young deportee angrily said: "Nigeria is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians in Libya. The government most especially Nigerian government officials in Libya can only live in denial. But I tell you conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal. As a graduate, if our government has really provided us with the enabling environment to realise my dreams, I wouldn't have become a victim of Libya's illegal immigrants. It is true that we have thousands of Nigerians who are caught while trying to escape to Europe through this route. Nobody can deny that. The worry is the brutal way Nigerians are executed like fowls. We were being constantly reminded by Libyan security agents that they don't need foreigners to develop their land. There are still many Nigerians languishing in Libyan prisons."

When a call was put through to a Nigerian lady currently detained in Jadida Prison in Tripoli, she admitted the harrowing experience they are going through. "We are more than 100 in a very small room. Other Nigerians have been moved to our prison. We were asked to wait. So we hope to be deported to Nigeria by tomorrow Sunday or next. We have suffered enough. Regardless of the business you have come to do in Libya, the authorities see you simply as illegal immigrant that must be crushed," she said.

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