30 stranded Nigerians in Lebanon rescued among 150 awaiting evacuation

Wed, Aug 5, 2020

By publisher

2 MIN READ

THIRTY 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 150 others trafficked and stranded in Lebanon to be evacuated back to Nigeria.

The Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Houssam Diab, disclosed the evacuation plans when the management of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, led by the Secretary, Sule Yakubu Bassi, visited the Embassy in Abuja.

Ambassador Diab stated that the 150 girls would be returned home in batches. The first batch of 110 would leave Beirut, Lebanon on 12th, August, 2020 to Lagos, while the

Second Batch would 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 55 of the girls.

In the same vein, the Secretary to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Sule Yakubi Bassi, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, applauded the excellent ties existing between Nigeria and Lebanon and urged both countries to sustain the cordial relationship.

Bassi also commended the dedication and commitment of Nigerian Ambassador to Lebanon, Goni Madu Zanna Bura, the Mission staff, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Oyo and Ogun State Governments, and other strategic partners.

The statement by Gabriel Odu, Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, NIDCOM said that 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 NAPTIP, the agency responsible for trafficking,” it added.

The breakdown shows:

1. Oyo State—— 41
2. Ogun — 21
3. Lagos — 12
4. Ondo — 18
5. Osun — 26
6. Imo — 3
7. Kwara– 9
8. Enugu — 1
9. Ekiti — 6
10. Kogi — 1
11. Edo — 1
12. Delta — 3
13. Ebonyi — 1
14. Benue — 1
15. Abia — 1
16. Akwa Ibom — 1
17. Anambra — 1

– Aug. 5, 2020 @ 14:59 GMT |