The Federal Government on Thursday described the reported killings of Nigerians and other sub-Saharan Africans in Libya as worrisome, asking the country’s Transitional National Council to put an end to it. The government said this in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


The statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr. Damian Agu, reiterated the Federal Government’s support for the Libyan people but urged the rebels’ leaders to check the excesses of their men.


The statement says, “Reports revealed outright killings, rape and extortion of money from these helpless Africans who have taken refuge in camps, as well as those in detention and incarceration.


“This development is a deviation from the overall expressed desire of the Transition National Council, the African Union and indeed the United Nations for the restoration of democracy and good governance in Libya.”


The Federal Government said the extra-judicial killings ran contrary to Nigeria’s call for the leadership of the TNC to be magnanimous in victory.


“While confirming that the concern of the Nigerian Government on this reported development has accordingly been brought to the urgent attention of the representatives of the TNC, the Government again seizes this opportunity to call on the leadership of the TNC to immediately take steps to check the excesses of these unscrupulous elements in Libya in order to pave way for the restoration of genuine democracy and true reconciliation.”


Reports on Wednesday claimed that rebels of the TNC were killing black Africans, including Nigerians, accused of being sympathetic to ousted Libyan leader, Col. Moammar Gaddafi.


A British newspaper, Daily Telegraph, reported that the victims included Nigerians, black Libyans and other sub-Saharan Africans.


One report says 20 black men were found dead outside Gaddafi’s compound after Libyan rebels captured Tripoli. Their hands were tied behind their backs and some of them had been shot in the head.


On the road south out of Tripoli, about 200 black people were also said to be hiding in a small encampment made of two small outbuildings shielded by a small wall and a metal door. Most of them were Nigerians and Ghanaians.


Amnesty International said it was told that between one third and half of those detained by rebels were from sub-Saharan Africa.


“An Amnesty International delegation visiting the Central Tripoli Hospital witnessed three Thuwwar revolutionaries, as the opposition fighters are commonly known, dragging a black patient from the western town of Tawargha from his bed and detaining him.


“The Thuwwar said the man would be taken to Misrata for questioning. Two other black Libyans receiving treatment in the hospital for gunshot wounds were warned by the anti-Gaddafi forces that their turn was coming,” a statement by the group said.


Meanwhile, two lawmakers in separate interviews berated President Goodluck Jonathan for not taking prompt action on the killings. The lawmakers spoke to our correspondents before the foreign ministry issued a statement.


Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in an interview with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, said, “President Jonathan must come out to say that enough is enough of (the) mindless killings of Nigerians. The rebels are still killing them, they tie their hands and legs and stuff clothes in their mouths.


“These Nigerians and other dark skinned people are just some of the migrants seeking to travel to Europe through Libya. President Jonathan should make a pronouncement about this but they appear not to be concerned about this.”


He said over 1,000 Nigerians travelling to Europe through Libya might have been killed by the rebels whom he described as racists. He said there was the likelihood that the Senate might cut short their recess, adding that he had sent a message to Senator George Akume, the Minority Leader, on the need to talk to Senate President David Mark to reconvene the Senate.


“I think all of us must come out of our holiday to address these issues (the UN bombing and the Ibadan floods). I think some people who are behind some of these problems are out to truncate our democracy,” the Senator added.


Speaking also, a member of the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, of the Action Congress of Nigeria, said the country should ensure that those who killed Nigerians were brought to book.


“People should be made to pay dearly for messing up with the lives of Nigerians,” Opeyemi, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said.


He urged the Federal Government to immediately evacuate Nigerians in the country to put a stop to the carnage.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110902663843

I was hoping for something much stronger from my president but this is Better than the deafening SILENCE we had before now.

[Quote]He urged the Federal Government to immediately evacuate Nigerians in the country to put a stop to the carnage.

[/quote]

Dragging them from one hell and placing them in another. As if the present situation in Nigeria is any better than that of Libya.

pDude:

Dragging them from one hell and placing them in another. As if the present situation in Nigeria is any better than that of Libya.

Why don't you pack to Libya to prove that life is better there?

Beaf:

Why don't you pack to Libya to prove that life is better there?

After you

pDude:

Dragging them from one hell and placing them in another. As if the present situation in Nigeria is any better than that of Libya.

People can live anywhere they like but our government should pro-actively seek our welfare anywhere we are. I get your point about Govt ineptitude though.

Nigeria is waaay better than Libya in IMO. It's up to people to decide if they want to leave or stay. I don't think many of these stranded Nigerians had the resources or chance to fit on the plane sent to pick Bash Ali and co.

So, I don't think all of those people want to be in Libya right now where racist rebels are dragging sick dark skinned people out of hospitals to execute them. Check here for more; https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-749081.0.html

A recent SkyNews report said 50% of those arrested by rebels are blacks or dark skinned, many of them are from Nigeria too. Are they the only ones in Libya? what about light skinned Libyans in Tripoli who supported ghaddafi?

The point is we need to bring our resources and influence to bear on this issue, Any foreign policy that does not protect the interests and welfare of Nigerians regardless of their wealth should be thrown in the latrine. Even poor migrant workers send money home to family.

pDude:

Dragging them from one hell and placing them in another. As if the present situation in Nigeria is any better than that of Libya.

animal in human skin

No, they should remain there to be killed.

these eyrabs need a stiff swift foot up the backside is what they need. america nuke that country to smithereens.

Nobody care about black folks

Rgp92:

Nobody care about black folks

all i wanna say is they dont really care about us

matta fact america and britain and france, nuke all the eyrab countries these eyrabs aint nothing but lecherous and smarmy vagabonds

Anywhere you have this mentality of "white skin is superior to black skin", such would always happen.
Its plain Racism!

These Bengahzi Rebels are worse than the Ghadafi they are trying to push-out with the help of the 'white' Europeans and some Arab leaders that are jealous of Ghadafi's closer ties with the sub-saharan black people!

Just give the TNC one year from now and you will discover their true color!
We all think Ghadafi was mad when he kept calling them "Rats and Alquaeda fundamentalist", right?

Time will tell.

For now, our President should make a plane available for 'all those who want to leave Libya ASAP", to come home.
Home is Always the best, irrespective of how bad it is, believe me.

Those that decline the offer can stay behind, at their own risk.

Lastpage.

The worst part is that you will still find people in dire situations expecting the nigerian government to do something.
(if at all you call it a govt)

What a useless country with escaping rats jumping into fire.

Expected more strongly worded rhetorics. . .

*Sigh*

What were they still doing in Libya?

Only a fool refuses to leave a house on fire until it is too late to escape.

hackney:

The worst part is that you will still find people in dire situations expecting the nigerian government to do something.
(if at all you call it a govt)

What a useless country with escaping rats jumping into fire.

look at this hackney rat

Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in an interview with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, said, “President Jonathan must come out to say that enough is enough of (the) mindless killings of Nigerians. The rebels are still killing them, they tie their hands and legs and stuff clothes in their mouths.

The position a man takes usually defines his relevance in emerging developments politically,socially etc. Now for a Jonathan who openly fraternized with 'libyan rebels' in resonance with western interests above the ultimate interest of a fellow African nation now calling on the same western-mercenaries to be 'JUST' in dealing with Nigerians is quite shameful.It is very clear that Jonathan is either blind or out-rightly gullible in the murky waters of international politics.What these 'rebels' are acting out right now is a script written out by their sponsors France and Cohorts,does not come as a surprise to me that Nigerians are always easy targets in a war-torn economy.If our President really cares for the lives our his citizens in Libya there ought to be over ten air-crafts stationed at strategic airports to air-lift all willing Nigerian nationals who are ready to return back to the country rather dishing out feeble orders tantamount to begging criminals,what the rebels cannot do to South-Africans or imagine Jacob Zuma pleading with these rebels to spare SA nationals without taking decisive steps to move in there and rescue them from their bloody hands.It is a shame that no Nigerian Leader in our history has ever taken any international action that will bring pride to its citizenry,to think we got it right in Jonathan is gradually turning out to be the worst of them all.

Were the murdered black men hand picked or caught in the crossfire?

Nymph node:

Were the murdered black men hand picked or caught in the crossfire?

Please learn to read posts fully before responding.

The only thing they are good at is to take holidays . dont knw what work they r doing . to do things that will give them recorgnision they can't . 'holiday senates indeed'. only intrested in were ghana must go is flying

The only thing they are good at is to take holidays . dont knw what work they r doing . to do things that will give them recorgnision they can't . 'holiday senates indeed'. only intrested in were ghana must go is flying

Black man don suffer. They are the most powerless race on earth.

Only powerless due to the likes of Goodluck Jonathan and I don't consider South Africa weak or even Ghana b/c at least they stood for something!

The likes of Chad(recognizing the rebels after they have killed mainly chadians), Niger, and Nigeria are the disgraces!!!

Blackteeth is actually right.

meanwhile,

Are we animals

http://allafrica.com/stories/201109030053.html


Look at these lies by the dumb media men! How much evidence do we need to provide that Nigerians are being killed!

It is funny Goodluck is talking about democracy and Ivory Coast as if those are his strengths,


4000 people died when the Malian-Burkina French armed Mande Origin tribes men went and massacred the Kru speaking tribes in Western Ivory Coast! Do you call that a success?? When a genocide occurred or is it the fact that all that died are Black so it does not matter to Goodluck?? Even today they continue their ethnic clearing policy under the watchful eyes of Ouatarra and his tribesmen!

His foreign policy is a disgrace!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/02/800-dead-ivory-coast-duekoue

success indeed!!

I Wonder why he gets mad when Chadian and Niger citizens join boko Haram to kill Nigerians when he joins France and the West to Kill other Africans all the time??

On this topic why should the gov be begging criminals to stop killing innocent people??

what are these folks doing in libya anyhow  crazy nigerians. you gotta be stone cold crazy to move to a country full of heyrabs. this is like a death sentence. these nigerians done lost whats left of their dayum minds. you see em in qatar, libya, iran, indonesia etc etc. mad folks

So called rebel criminals have not yet won! Maybe Jonathan should send Nigerians to help them! If you are going to support a group should it not be with action

[flash=400,300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SixxBBxSnUA[/flash]



The above film proves people will prefer to die in Libya than come back  to nigeria

blacksta:

[flash=400,300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SixxBBxSnUA[/flash]



The above film proves people will prefer to die in Libya than come back  to nigeria

That Nigerian guy is simply arguing that he will prefer to leave Libya and go to Europe rather than come to Nigeria, he said he has nothing in Nigeria.

I don't blame him one bit, most people don't wake up and leave their comfort zone on a whim. Dude is trying to get a Better life for himself and his family and he was clearly appealing to the UN for help in that video, I'd word it the same way if I was trying to escape to Europe with the UN's help -one of the main reasons why many Nigerians are in Libya in the first place. "Escape" to Europe.

We really can't understand what these poor frustrated migrant Nigerian workers go through until we step in their shoes. For some they took that journey because Nigeria is totally hopeless for them.

Besides, the Nigerian Ambassador to Libya ran away in the heat of the crisis and reportedly abandoned thousands of Nigerians willing to leave Libya. They only flew in a plane or two to evacuate Bash Ali and co then stopped.

If we can have Arabs making billions in Nigeria every year from the construction Industry to to hotels, then nigerian migrant workers should have the chance to do the same in their countries, especially in the territories controlled by the same Rebels we support. We need to strongly demand better


See, Nigerians willing to leave but Stranded earlier in the conflict:

Libya: Nigerian envoy flees
On March 3, 2011 ·

*Abandons 7,000 stranded Nigerians

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

NIGERIAN Ambassador to Libya, Ambassador Isah Mohammed Aliyu, has reportedly fled the country to Malta with his family, abandoned more than 7,000 stranded Nigerians at the Tripoli airport.

This came as the embittered Nigerians accuse the government of abandoning them and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of completely showing no interest in what was happening in Libya.


They said that in a bid to prevent the world from knowing actual situation of things in the country, the Libya security agencies did not permit entry with memory cards, camera and laptops into the airport, adding that the Nigerian government should emulate other countries that value their citizens, and initiate a massive evacuation of Nigerians in Libya now.

Rights activists
Meanwhile, rights activists, under the umbrella of the Campaign for the Rights of Nigerians in Diaspora, CRND, have raised alarm that over 7,000 Nigerians were still trapped in Tripoli Airport in Libya, while many more were yet to find their way to  either the airport or other exit ports.

The group faulted the Federal Government and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its attitude towards Nigerians in Diaspora, especially when other countries were working day and night to evacuate their citizens from Libya.

CRND said Nigerians or relatives of Nigerians still stranded in the North African country, should reach  one Mr. Solomon Okoduwa in Libya on +218923369805 or +218917266997 for assistance.


In a statement by CRND’s Secretary, Mr. Frank Malcom, the group claimed the stranded Nigerians planned to protest yesterday to draw the attention of government to their plight.

A Nigerian woman with two kids at the Tripoli airport was quoted in the statement as crying for help from Nigerians, human rights groups to appeal to the Nigerian government to evacuate them from Libya.
She said: “I have two kids with me here, and I have been in this airport for three weeks, no food to eat, we sleep on the floor everyday waiting for plane to come and evacuate us. Please beg Nigerian government to come  with bigger planes to evacuate us.”


Another [b]Nigerian, Mr. Solomon Okoduwa, who is the senior elder of Nigeria community in Libya, said “so far the Tripoli airport as at the time of call has recorded seven thousand Nigerians awaiting evacuation, aside those trapped in Benghazi and other states outside Tripoli. Most of them have been at the airport for several weeks; watching other countries coming with cargo planes and ships to evacuate their citizens almost every two hours, while Nigerians starve at the airport as there are no provision for food, water or place to sleep, even pregnant and nursing mothers [/b]are not excluded from the pains and suffering”.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/libya-nigerian-envoy-flees