The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has issued a strong warning against illegal migration, describing it as a “voluntary suicide mission.” The statement came from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Commission, during a meeting in Abuja with Miss Mercy Oluwabanga, a 24-year-old Nigerian rescued from Libya.
Oluwabanga, a former business administration student at the University of Ilorin, had dropped out in 2018 and later left Nigeria in December 2021 through irregular migration routes. She was lured into domestic work in Libya where she faced severe abuse, threats, and non-payment of wages.
Her situation gained attention after she released a distress video appealing to Dabiri-Erewa for rescue. NiDCOM, in collaboration with the Nigerian Community in Libya and the Trinity Foundation, intervened to secure her release.
Dabiri-Erewa welcomed her back to Nigeria, stressing that her survival was rare compared with many other migrants who perish or remain trapped. “Going to Libya is voluntary suicide and you will be sold into slavery,” she warned, adding that Oluwabanga’s escape to a private camp had made her rescue possible.
The NiDCOM chief urged Nigerians to learn from this case, highlighting the risks of exploitation, slavery, and death linked to irregular migration. She also revealed that the Commission would support Oluwabanga’s return to education through the NELFUND scheme, helping her rebuild her life.
Expressing gratitude to the Nigerian government, the Trinity Foundation, and the Nigerian Community in Libya, Oluwabanga promised to join the campaign against illegal migration. She vowed to use her experience to warn others against taking dangerous and unregulated routes abroad.
The case has once again drawn attention to the plight of Nigerians trapped in Libya, many of whom fall prey to traffickers, forced labour, and dire living conditions.
