30 Nigerians in a video appealing for help have been rescued by the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon and have been relocated to a more conducive apartment.
They will be part of the one hundred and fifty (150) others trafficked and stranded in Lebanon to be evacuated back to Nigeria.
The Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Houssam Diab disclosed the evacuation plans when the Management of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), led by the Secretary Engr. Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi visited the Embassy in Abuja.
Ambassador Diab stated that the one hundred and fifty (150) girls will be returned home in batches. The first batch of one hundred and ten (110) will leave Beirut, Lebanon on 12th August, 2020 to Lagos while the second batch will be returned to Abuja on 16th August, 2020.
The Diplomat commended the efforts of the Lebanese Community and the Oyo State Government which is sponsoring the return of fifty-five (55) of the girls.
In the same vein, the Secretary to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Dr Sule Yakubi Bassi on behalf of the Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa applauded the excellent ties existing between Nigeria and Lebanon and urged both countries to sustain the cordial relationship.
Dr. Bassi also commended the dedication and commitment of Nigerian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ambassador Goni Madu Zanna Bura, Mission staff, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Oyo and Ogun State Governments and other strategic partners.
As part of the Nigerian Embassy’s Consular responsibility, the ladies on the said video that went viral and many other distressed Nigerian domestic workers were located and relocated to a safer place.
Suffice to say that 150 of these stranded victims are expected to be evacuated next week and handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the agency responsible for anti-trafficking.
A breakdown of the stranded Nigerians shows: Oyo State – 41, Ogun – 21, Lagos -12, Ondo -18, Osun -26, Imo -3, Kwara – 9, Enugu -1, Ekiti -6, Kogi – 1, Edo – 1, Delta – 3, Ebonyi- 1, Benue – 1, Abia- 1, Akwa Ibom- 1 and Anambra- 1.
It will be recalled that the Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM), through its President, Ajibola Abayomi, last week, raised an alarm after exclusive encounter with the stranded Nigerians through a statement on Friday and called for speedy rescue action from the government.
He said beyond lamentations, JIFORM had forwarded details of the human trafficking agents involved in the matter to the relevant agencies and shall diligently monitor it to the logical conclusion to ensure proper investigation and prosecution of all those involved.
Photo: Stranded Nigerian Ladies before rescue in Lebanon.
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