Horror in Sahara Desert... As Nigerians die in numbers, envoy says
Nigeria's Ambassador to Algeria, Jeremiah Hassan yesterday lamented the rate at which Nigerians and other African immigrants die in the Sahara desert in their desperation to cross to Europe illegally.
``It is saddening. Hundreds of Nigerians and other Africans, south of the Sahara, waste their lives daily in illegal search for greener pastures in Europe,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Algiers.
``A Nigerian lady died last week in Oran, somewhere in the desert when she was being delivered of a set of twins. She is still in the mortuary. I have refused that she is buried until we trace her parents.
``Some Nigerians and other Africans have set up camps along the desert route, where they pretend to be prepared to offer assistance to these desperadoes.
``They end up either fleecing the illegal immigrants of their money and other belongings or turning them into labourers or prostitutes,’’ Hassan told NAN.
``Many get lost in the desert while on the journey. Some 14 or so Africans including their driver and his son, who was the conductor in the bus, died last week in the desert after they got lost, ran out of fuel and water,’’ he added.
The ambassador said that those who trafficked in illegal immigrants usually assured them of making good money in Europe as hairstylists in the case of the women and security guards, taxi drivers and menial jobbers, in case of the men.
``They, instead, turn their victims into prostitutes or slaves en-route Europe or marry them forcibly and illegally.
``They are made to swear blood oath before departure from Nigeria and there is no escape for them generally,’’ he said.
Hassan explained that those who succeeded in crossing to cities in the north African countries were sometimes caught and repatriated after serving jail terms of six months.
``Some are thrown back into the deserts after their release from jail and they die there because they lack the wherewithal to survive.
``When they survive and are lucky to get back to Nigeria, they claim that they succeeded in Europe, but lost their belongings while changing flights on their homeward journey. It is all a lie. They must have been deported,’’ he told NAN.
Hassan said that there was another group, who when they got into Europe, went from house to house and to charity organisations to collect used clothes and shoes which they sent home for sale.
``Whenever they are caught, they are deported all the same,’’ he said.
The ambassador appealed to Nigerians who have nothing tangible or concrete to do in Europe to stay at home ``where the grass is still green.
``There are no greener pastures in Europe any longer. Nigerians should realise that the only green pasture is at home where they have their kith and kin and abundant opportunities,’’ Hassan said.