10,000 Nigerians Jailed In Tripoli

Nigeria and Libya may severe their diplomatic relationship over the illegal imprisonment of over 10,000 Nigerians in underground cells in Tripoli, the capital of Libya.

This hint was dropped in Benin City yesterday by Hon Samson Osagie representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode constituency in the House of Representatives who said that all attempts to secure their release proved abortive.

“I have been able to move a motion of urgent public importance at the floor of the House that over 10,000 Nigerians of which over 2,000 are indigenes of Edo State and mainly women are languishing in underground cells in Libya.

“This aroused the concern of my female colleagues in the House who are now so interested in the matter. We have opened contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Ojo Maduekwe on how to seek possible ways to release these people. The problem we have now is that the minister had been away and no concrete arrangement has been put in place so that we can travel on the entourage of the minister so as to meet the government of Libya, even though an open contact has been made through the Nigerian embassy in Tripoli, but much has not been achieved.

“As I speak to you now I have received over 100 calls from our people in Libya, I am seriously under pressure. I must also commend the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Edo People in Diaspora, Mr Ehizuwa Agbonyima who has also mounted a lot of pressure on the Minister of Foreign Affairs in ensuring that these people are released on time.

“And I must also warn our people to desist from travelling oversees through the road, you could imagine that 99 per cent of these people that are detained are illiterate. They could hardly read and write, so just tell me how would they know the law of any country they get to, not to talk of Libya that is an Arabic speaking country?

So, I will advised parents, guardians to desist from sending their wards abroad via road. If you want your children abroad prepare them the necessary document and let them travel by air so that we can be saved from this embarrassment.

“You could remember how I equally fought the Spanish government over our own brother that was tortured to death by their police and at the end we dialogued and arrived at a compromise. I would have expected the Libya government to show this sign of understanding but instead they are just adamant, keeping deaf ear to all our moves. It is really sad. And I hope the president would take the matter up himself.

His Majesty, Eze Robinson O. Robinson, Eze Ekpeye Logbo (right) presenting cola-nuts to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers State Governor, during a courtesy visit to his palace as part of the Governor’s meet-the-people tour of Ahoada-West Local Government Area, recently. Photo: Ibioye Diama