Hundreds Of Nigerians Stranded Near Libyan Borders

Nigerian emigrants stranded near Libyan borders Hundreds of migrants, including Nigerians, are reportedly stranded around the Libyan borders for fear of violation, arbitrary arrests, detention and beating by rebels. These migrants were said to have made makeshift camps in the outskirts of Tripoli, the Libyan capital, since the uprising to overthrow the nation’s dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, spread to the city in August. An online news agency, irinnews.org, said the migrants included Nigerians, Chadians, Sudanese, Senegalese and Malians. One of such camps was said to be in Sidi Bilal, 35 kilometres west of the capital, where the migrants have been taking shelter in abandoned boats and hanging blankets from the hulls to create makeshift walls. The rebels, who ousted Gaddafi’s 42-year rule, had accused the embattled leader of using black African mercenaries to fight back. Since then, the rebels were said to have “arbitrarily arrested, robbed and beaten hundreds of migrants, while many migrants have had their money, mobile phones and passports taken.” The agency reported, “When armed rebels came to the area, the migrants retreated to their improvised homes. They fear violation or more arrests. One migrant said the armed men beat the hell out of them. “This is just one of several camps made up of migrants, who do not have the means to go back home, despite a hostile environment here. Some of those who are able to return have faced their own difficulties in their home countries. “Others are still trying to get out of Libya, in what the International Organization for Migration still considers an emergency situation.” Despite the evacuation of thousands of the migrants from Libya, IOM is still trying to reach vulnerable communities in areas like Sebha, 650 kilometres south-west of Tripoli, which had remained under the control of Gaddafi’s loyalists. IOM Chief of Mission for Chad, Quasim Sufi, was quoted to have said in a communiqué that “Chadians, Nigeriens, Nigerians and others have sought protection at the IOM centre in Sebha, but with no electricity, fuel, and little food or water, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. The migrants are very scared and threatened.” The Libyan National Transition Committee and its supporters have persistently maintained that the immigrants played a leading role in checking the rebel advance, and providing Gaddafi with a last line of defence. Illegal migrants heading for Southern Europe, notably Italy and Spain, had taken Libya as a stop-over point, but later turned the country into a destination especially those seeking job opportunities in a fast-expanding economy. The majority of them, notably Nigerians, took up mainly unskilled jobs.byan borders for fear of violation, arbitrary arrests, detention and beating by rebels. These migrants were said to have made makeshift camps in the outskirts of Tripoli, the Libyan capital, since the uprising to overthrow the nation’s dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, spread to the city in August. An online news agency, irinnews.org, said the migrants included Nigerians, Chadians, Sudanese, Senegalese and Malians. One of such camps was said to be in Sidi Bilal, 35 kilometres west of the capital, where the migrants have been taking shelter in abandoned boats and hanging blankets from the hulls to create makeshift walls. The rebels, who ousted Gaddafi’s 42-year rule, had accused the embattled leader of using black African mercenaries to fight back. Since then, the rebels were said to have “arbitrarily arrested, robbed and beaten hundreds of migrants, while many migrants have had their money, mobile phones and passports taken.” The agency reported, “When armed rebels came to the area, the migrants retreated to their improvised homes. They fear violation or more arrests. One migrant said the armed men beat the hell out of them. “This is just one of several camps made up of migrants, who do not have the means to go back home, despite a hostile environment here. Some of those who are able to return have faced their own difficulties in their home countries. “Others are still trying to get out of Libya, in what the International Organization for Migration still considers an emergency situation.” Despite the evacuation of thousands of the migrants from Libya, IOM is still trying to reach vulnerable communities in areas like Sebha, 650 kilometres south-west of Tripoli, which had remained under the control of Gaddafi’s loyalists. IOM Chief of Mission for Chad, Quasim Sufi, was quoted to have said in a communiqué that “Chadians, Nigeriens, Nigerians and others have sought protection at the IOM centre in Sebha, but with no electricity, fuel, and little food or water, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. The migrants are very scared and threatened.” The Libyan National Transition Committee and its supporters have persistently maintained that the immigrants played a leading role in checking the rebel advance, and providing Gaddafi with a last line of defence. Illegal migrants heading for Southern Europe, notably Italy and Spain, had taken Libya as a stop-over point, but later turned the country into a destination especially those seeking job opportunities in a fast-expanding economy. The majority of them, notably Nigerians, took up mainly unskilled jobs.