NiDCOM Warns Nigerians Against Illegal Migration, Calls It ‘Voluntary Suicide’
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has cautioned Nigerians against embarking on illegal migration, describing it as voluntary suicide and a dangerous route to slavery.
Chairman of the commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the warning in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving 24-year-old Mercy Oluwagbenga, who was recently rescued from Libya.
Oluwagbenga had earlier released a viral video pleading with Dabiri-Erewa for help after facing severe hardship in the North African country.
NiDCOM, in collaboration with the president of the Nigerian community in Libya and Segun Abraham, founder of Trinity Foundation, coordinated her rescue.
The young lady, who dropped out of the University of Ilorin in 2018, left Nigeria through illegal routes in December 2021 in search of greener pastures but soon found herself subjected to abuse and maltreatment from her employers.
When her ordeal became unbearable, she made a distress video call to the NiDCOM chairman.
After listening to her account, Dabiri-Erewa warned others against making similar journeys.
“Yours was because you had already escaped to a private camp, and we were able to locate you. This should be a point of reference to learn from because going to Libya is voluntary suicide, and you will be sold into slavery,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa welcomed Oluwagbenga back to Nigeria, noting that many in her situation were not so fortunate to return alive.
Grateful for the intervention, Oluwagbenga thanked the federal government for its swift action and pledged to join campaigns discouraging illegal migration among Nigerian youths.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
