- Some Nigerians returned from Libya recently after a tortuous, but failed journey to seek greener pasture
- Out of the number received by the Edo state government, 16 girls have been reported pregnant
- Some of the girls also returned with children
Sixteen girls, out of the 169 that were deported from Libya and received by the Edo state government recently, returned from the volatile country with pregnancy.
Some of the girls also came back with children.
The Nation reports that most of the girls refused to speak with journalists even as some had children with them.
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The few who spoke provided sorry details of their experiences and suffering. Some said they were walking in the streets of Libya when they were arrested and deported.
One of the returnees, Joseph Faith, described her experience as horrible, but added that she would want to remain in Nigeria if she was gainfully employed. She also wants to go back to school to study English.
The report confirms that the Edo state government also received 84 indigenes, who were deported from Libya and offered to place them on monthly stipend as well as train them on acquiring vocational skills.
The attorney-general of the state justice commissioner, Prof Yinka Omorogbe, explained that the new batch of deportees were women and children with only one male adult.
Omorogbe, who doubles as the chairman of the state taskforce against human trafficking, said the state government is highlighting the evils of trafficking to the deportees.
“The idea is that Edo wants to eradicate trafficking in persons and stem the illegal migration. If you want to travel, do it legally.
“We are worried about what the people go through when they decided to travel to Libya illegally.
“Government is taking the problem as its own; we are interested in those who will partner with the state government to address the issue.
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“As we have seen, 80 percent of illegal migrants are from Edo state so it has been a big challenge to us.
“We are trying to assist them and be integrated into the society.
“Those who want to go back to school would be encourage to go back while those who need training in skill acquisition would be trained in their chosen skills," he said.
NAIJ.com earlier reported how the CNN recently uncovered slave markets in which humans are being sold like commodities.
The CNN in its report on Wednesday, November 15, said one of the unidentified men being sold in a cell phone video obtained by by the network is a Nigerian.
Meet Port Harcourt-based Nigerian pastor who is changing the lives of the poor nationwide - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Thursday 16 November 2017