Killing of blacks in North Africa, Dabiri-Erewa calls for evacuation of Nigerians in Libya

“Blacks are reportedly being killed in the North African country following the victory of the rebels.” 

Former Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Monday called on the Federal Government and the African Union (AU)  to evacuate more than 2,000 Nigerians and other African migrants trapped in different cities in Libya.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the former Chairman listed the cities as Tripoli, Benghazi, Gath, Agadez and Sirte.

There are reported killings of Nigerians and other blacks in Libya over accusation that they were mercenaries working for the deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The lawmaker called on the African Union and the Federal Government to mount pressure on the Transitional National Council (TNC) and the remnant of Gaddafi forces to stop the ongoing genocide against blacks in the country.

Quoting an SMS from one of the victims, Daramola Siji Clement, a stranded Ekiti State indigene in Libya said: “we cannot go out of our homes, my wife and children, we will certainly be shot. We do not have food and we lack everything”, the statement stated.

Dabiri-Erewa said the call became imperative on AU and Nigeria to act and save African families boxed in troubled Libya to stop the killing of Nigerians.

The lawmaker recalled how Ghaddafi’s led forces had been slaughtering Nigerians and other Africans like chickens for years.

She expressed dismay at the unwarranted killings, describing the development as “unfortunate”.

She also recalled her former committee and the House of Representatives intervention to save 21 Nigerians from Ghaddafi’s execution.

“Now with war situation they are most unsafe, whether with Gaddafi forces, who had always been hostile or the rebels who don’t trust them. I personally support Nigerians stance to recognise the rebels because with the way Gaddafi had callously killed several African migrants in Libya. Africa and indeed, the world are better without him in power.”

Dabiri-Erewa said the earlier the AU follows “at a progressive position like Nigeria, the better for the Union and Africa”.

Nigerian government have since evacuated hundreds of Nigerians trapped and stranded in the country back home.

-By Emmanuel Okubenji 

Source: DailyTimes