Rescued Nigerian girl warns youths against irregular migration
A young Nigerian, Mercy Oluwagbenga, has sent out a passionate warning to her peers never to embark on irregular migration, stressing that “whatever your situation, do not travel through dangerous routes.”
Mercy was recently rescued from Libya after a viral video showed her crying out for help.
Received in Abuja by the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the 20-year-old, narrated her harrowing ordeal, describing how she was deceived with the promise of greener pastures but ended up in modern-day slavery.
Mercy, who hails from Kabba in Kogi State, revealed that she had dropped out of school in 2018 to care for her ailing mother but was lured into travelling to Libya in search of money.
Instead, she spent one year and six months working without pay, constantly maltreated, and at one point locked in a house where her blood was forcefully drawn.
“For one year and six months, I worked without receiving a kobo, because I had to pay the Agent who took me to Libya the sum of about two and a half million naira. I was maltreated, I changed jobs, and at one point, locked up in a house where my blood was drawn without my consent,” she recalled tearfully.
Mercy, an indigene of Kabba in Kogi state, lamented that Nigerians in her situation were “treated like animals,” stressing that she was lucky to have escaped into a camp.
She expressed deep appreciation to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and NIDCOM and Dr Segun Abraham of Trinity foundation for facilitating her safe return.
“I don’t want any young girl or boy to go through what I went through. Please don’t follow this route,” Mercy pleaded, as she pledged to work with NIDCOM to raise awareness against irregular migration.
Lamenting the loss of her sick mother while in Libya ,she pleaded for assistance for her to return to school which she abandoned since 2018 at 300 Level.
In her remarks, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended Mercy for her courage and survival, describing her as “one of the lucky ones,” noting that many others have died in the desert or the Mediterranean Sea, while some remain untraceable.
The NIDCOM boss reiterated that irregular migration amounts to “voluntary suicide” and cautioned Nigerian youths to always seek safe and legal channels for travel.
She thanked Dr. Segun Abraham, whose financial support made the repatriation possible.
Dabiri-Erewa further assured that NIDCOM will facilitate her full rehabilitation and continue to work with partners and stakeholders to protect Nigerians, while stepping up advocacy to curb the menace of human trafficking and irregular migration.
She commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for introducing NELFUND, which will provide opportunities for Nigerians like Mercy to complete her education rather than drop out for lack of funds.
