Libya: Returnees reject N1,000 fares

* Relatives storm hotel Libya returnees yesterday rejected the N1,000 fares given to them by the Edo State government. People yesterday morning stormed the premises of Benin Motel Plaza where the returnees are lodged to look for their relatives. They peeped through the fence. A woman, who gave her name as Boss, said she was looking for her brother, Aminu. She said she last heard from him in September 2016. Another man said he visited the hotel each time he heard Nigerians returned from Libya to search for his daughter. The returnees said it was sad that they were still wearing the prison uniforms given to them in Libya. They claimed that an announcement by the Federal Government that Nigerians should return home, made Libya policemen to arrest them. The returnees alleged that they lost money during the arrest and deportation. Efosa Clifford, 43, said he spent over N1.3 million on his failed trip to Europe. He said: “Life is good in Libya. But unfortunately, blacks have no free movement.” Gabriel Edokpaigbe said it would be a shame for him to go back to his father’s home after he sold his belongings to travel to Europe. He said the N1,000 fare would not take him to his destination. Christian Otoide, who said he is based in Lagos State, added that he was still wearing a prison uniform “because I have no clothes.” He said they were promised many things in Libya and he was forced to join the Federal Government flight, instead of the IOM programme. “How will N1,000 take me to Lagos? We were working in Libya, but the police told us that our government said our country is good now.”]]>