By Kayode Fasua
A leading rights group, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) has petitioned the Nigerian Embassy in Libya, over the fate of Bosede Gbeje, a 24-year old Nigerian housewife who is trapped in that country.
Bosede, in the petition by CD’s Secretary General, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, was about a year ago coerced into embarking on the trip by a female human trafficker who had since abandoned the victim to her fate.
The CD scribe in the missive to the Nigerian Embassy, lamented that Bosede had since been passing through harrowing times in a Libyan serfdom, leaving her two children and husband, who were based in Akure, Ondo State, in agony.
Her aged parents, the CD said, had also been traumatised for lack of communication with their daughter.
“We recognise the Nigerian Embassy in Libya in its efforts at ensuring that no Nigerian is trapped, stranded or subjected to inhuman treatment, degradation and servitude in Libya.
“Consequently, pursuant to the United Nations declaration on Human and People’s Right, and that of African Charter on Human and People’s Right, of which Nigeria is a member state, with all sense of humility, we write to formally report that there is a Nigerian Lady, Bosede Gbeje, 24 years old, who is being trapped in Libya and we humbly request her repatriation back to Nigeria.
“She was unlawfully coerced and transported by land to Libya, leaving her two children with her husband in Nigeria. The parents of Bosede Gbeje have since been in serious physical and psychological trauma since the departure of their daughter to Libya.
“We know well that Nigerian mission in Libya has made it a priority to ensure that no Nigerian is left stranded in Libya or subjected to inhuman treatment.
“Bosesde Gbeje is irregular migrant or a victim of human trafficking who was cajoled into the dangerous journey in search of greener pasture in Libya,” the CD Secretary General had written to the Nigerian Embassy in Shara Narjis, Hai Al-zuzor, Libya.
The CD stated further that where Bosede was being housed in Libya had not been made available to it but that “we have three numbers they have used in communicating with us from Libya before now and they are thus listed: +218917557628 user’s name: Essema; +218922239831 user’s name: Gafar; +218944152157.
“These names were displayed on phone via true caller apps,” the CD informed.
The CD added that it had also written to the National Agency for The Prohibition Of Human Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) state coordinator in Ondo State, the state where Bosede was said to have left illegally, “to also expedite action”.
“We consider it safe for Bosede, to send this letter of appeal to Your Excellency to use your good office to effect her deportation back to Nigeria,” the rights group appealed to the Nigerian ambassador to Libya.