Idowu Lawal, a well-known barber from Ogun State, Nigeria, recounted his harrowing journey to Libya in a telephone interview with Sodiq Adelakun.
Despite never aspiring to travel abroad, Lawal was enticed by the prospect of making money in Libya.
Seizing what he believed was an answer to his prayers, Lawal embarked on the journey without informing his family or friends, unaware that it might be a final farewell.
He travelled to Abeokuta to catch a bus to Kano, where he was herded onto an overcrowded bus destined for Niger Republic.
Lawal shared with FTN the nightmarish experiences he endured through the Niger Republic, the Sahara Desert, and finally Libya, in a story that serves as a cautionary tale for others.
His shocking account shed light on the perils faced by migrants on their treacherous journey, revealing the grim reality that often goes unnoticed.
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One of the most distressing revelations was the occurrence of suffocation and death within the confines of overcrowded trucks.
Startlingly, these fatalities often remain undiscovered until the vehicles reach their destination in Libya. Additionally, numerous migrants have tragically lost their lives by falling out of these packed trucks.
Disturbingly, it is not uncommon for migrants to come across lifeless bodies strewn along their path. Reports have emerged of hundreds of corpses found in the vast expanse of the Sahara desert.
However, due to the absence of roads and the sheer size of the desert, the actual number of fatalities is believed to be significantly higher.
Many migrants’ remains are swallowed by the unforgiving sand, forever lost and unaccounted for. Further horrors were unveiled when the interviewee recounted a chilling incident that occurred during their journey from Niger to Saba.
Stranded in the scorching desert due to a vehicle breakdown, the group, consisting of two Nigerian women and the driver, was forced to push the immobilised vehicle. However, the driver callously disregarded the pleas of the women, citing their gender and the intense heat as reasons for exemption.
Shockingly, the driver resorted to an act of unspeakable violence, fatally stabbing both women.
According to him, “Sometimes migrants suffocate and die in the back of trucks, and their bodies are not discovered until the truck is unloaded in Libya.
“People also die from falling out of overcrowded trucks. Migrants frequently report encountering dead bodies during their journey.
“There have been numerous official reports of hundreds of corpses being found in the Sahara. The actual number is likely higher, but it remains unknown due to the vastness of the desert and the absence of roads.
“Many migrants’ bodies become buried in the sand and are never recovered.While travelling from Niger to Saba, our vehicle broke down in the desert.
“Two Nigerian women were with us in the vehicle, and when the driver instructed everyone to get out and push, the women requested to be excused due to the scorching sun.
In response, the driver fatally stabbed both of them.”
Military patrols have been deployed to the main routes leading to the Libyan border due to an increase in cases of drivers abandoning migrants in the Sahara out of fear of being imprisoned.
Upon arrival in Libya, some female migrants are forced into prostitution by unscrupulous individuals, while others may be fortunate enough to secure housemaid jobs in Uptown.
However, many end up in occupations they did not choose.
The unstable state has no single government, leaving migrants vulnerable to exploitation by militias and armed groups who see them as an easy way to make money.
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One migrant, Adejoke, was held captive in Libya for two years and tortured in a detention center. The militia called his parents regularly to demand money, but they could not afford to pay.
He managed to escape, but many others are not so lucky.Detention centers in Libya are overcrowded, with little food or water. Migrants are regularly beaten and some die of starvation and poor health.
Women are particularly vulnerable and many end up in sex slavery.If the detention centers become too full or if migrants cannot pay their smugglers, they risk being sold in slave markets and forced to work
The situation in Libya is a warning to Nigerians, especially young people, to be careful when traveling abroad. It is important to have enough money to cover your needs and not to be rushed into making decisions that could put you in danger.
He further said that, “I Libya is an extremely unstable state with no unified government. Migrants are frequently arrested and placed in detention centers, many of which are controlled by militias and armed groups who view migrants as an easy source of income.
“Adejoke, a migrant, experienced captivity and torture in a Libyan detention center. The militia would regularly contact his parents, demanding money that they couldn’t afford to pay. After two years, he managed to escape.
“Detention centers in Libya suffer from severe shortages of food and water, and migrants are subjected to regular beatings, rape, and even murder. Some die due to starvation and poor health. These centers are also overcrowded, forcing migrants to sometimes sleep while standing.If the detention centers or migrant warehouses become too full, or if migrants are unable to pay their smugglers, they face the risk of being sold in slave markets and forced into labor.
“Many women have been trapped in sex slavery.Therefore, my sincere advice to Nigerians, especially the youth, is to believe in your own endeavors and not allow anyone to rush you into unfavorable situations. Personally, I am still in Libya because I want to earn enough money before returning home to reunite with my friends and family.
“It was during my struggles in Libya that I tragically lost my mother.When travelling abroad, I urge you to ensure you have enough money to support yourself and avoid becoming a victim of unfortunate circumstances.”
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