Some 172 Nigerians repatriated from Libya arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Friday. Out of this number, 13 female among them are said to be carrying various stages of pregnancy.
The Nigerians were brought into the country from Libya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday night.
It was gathered that out of the figure, 30 were adult males, 40 adult female, 20 female teenagers, four boys and eight girls. The South-West zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Iyiola Akande said, “One hundred and sixty two people were ready to return to Nigeria, and the figure rose to 172 at the point of departure in Libya. But when it was time to board the plane, 61 persons declined”.
It would be recalled that in September last year, more than 10, 000 Nigerian girls held captive as sex slaves in Morocco and Libya were repatriated, the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora matters had revealed in a statement.
The girls said to be from Edo State, the southern part of the country and aged between 13 and 17, were allegedly held captive by sex slave traders, the statement had added.
According to the Committee statement, it was currently working with relevant authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations to ensure the safe return of the young girls.
The committee said it would further stage an aggressive campaign to educate parents and girls on the dangers of prostitution, especially for young girls in remote areas. “We are going to be working with you and the committee will try to tackle this matter. We are going to sensitise people in the states,” the statement said.
The local NGOs have also expressed concern on the situation of young girls saying a number of them were taken as sex slaves from Nigeria en route to Europe before they were trapped in Morocco and Libya.
Some of the girls are reportedly pregnant and infected with various diseases including HIV/AIDS and had been sent to jail in the two countries while others are now at the mercy of their slave masters according to reports.
The Libyan and Moroccan authorities are reportedly fed up with the presence of the girls, putting them in jail time and again. The girls are also living at a high risk as they could be eliminated or subjected to different inhuman treatment by the host nations according to reports.
