A young lady, recently rescued from Libya by Nigerian authorities warns fellow Nigerians of the dangers lurking in some routes of illegal migration.
Mercy Oluwagbenga’s voice trembled, but her message firmly. “Whatever your situation, do not travel through dangerous routes.”
She had just returned from Libya following a viral video where she cried out for help.
Mercy, 26, dropped out of university in 2018. She was in 300 Level when she left school to care for her sick mother.
She was lured to Libya with promises of greener pastures. Instead, she found herself trapped in modern-day slavery.
Trapped and Tortured in Libya
“For one year and six months, I worked without receiving a kobo,” she said. She owed ₦2.5 million to the agent who trafficked her.
She was maltreated, changed jobs, and at one point, locked in a house. “My blood was drawn without my consent,” she recalled.
Mercy, from Kabba, Kogi State, said Nigerians like her were “treated like animals.” She escaped into a camp and was rescued.
She thanked NIDCOM boss Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Dr Segun Abraham of Trinity Foundation for her safe return.
A Plea to Nigerian Youths
“I don’t want any young girl or boy to go through what I went through,” Mercy pleaded. “Please don’t follow this route.”
She pledged to work with NIDCOM to raise awareness against irregular migration. She also asked for help to return to school.
Her mother died while she was in Libya. Mercy now hopes to complete her education and rebuild her life.
Dabiri-Erewa called Mercy “one of the lucky ones.” She said many others died in the desert or drowned in the Mediterranean.
The NIDCOM boss warned youths that irregular migration is “voluntary suicide,” advising them to use safe and legal travel channels.
She thanked Dr Abraham for funding Mercy’s repatriation. She promised NIDCOM would support Mercy’s rehabilitation.
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