Some 200 Nigerians are believed to be among over 500 African migrants who perished off the coast of Libya after their boasts overturned in rough waters. The International Organisation for Migrants (IOM) confirmed that Egyptians, Palestinians, and Ghanaians are among.


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Libyan officials, however, said only a few bodies have washed ashore after at least one and possibly three boats capsized in very high winds.

"Libyan authorities have confirmed the shipwrecks and our diplomatic sources in Tripoli are talking about 500 people missing," said IOM Spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy.

"It seems the three boats were overloaded and sank in storm-strength winds."

Libya is a choice destination for Nigerians seeking greener pastures because of the country's oil wealth and despite the harsh treatment by Libyan authorities.

The IMO said Italy will begin joint sea patrols in May with Libya, to deter migrants from using Libya as a gateway to Europe.

IOM figures showed that at least 33,000 people crossed from North Africa to the Italian island of Lampedusa last year alone.

One vessel carrying more than 250 people reportedly ran into difficulty after setting off from Sidi Bilal, near Libya's capital, Tripoli.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry said the boat had sunk some 30 kilometres (19 miles) off the Libyan coast after getting holed in the hull.

"Libyan search and rescue operations led to the recovery of the bodies of those who drowned as a result of the accident, among them the bodies of 10 Egyptians," said official Ahmed Rizk.

Laurence Hart, of the IOM in Tripoli, expressed fear that as many as 500 migrants may have died.

"There is still a slim chance that some of these people are going to be rescued, but the casualties are going to be high of course," he warned.

Hundreds of migrants have died in the last few months crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe, and the Gulf of Aden from Somalia to Yemen.

They are usually at the mercy of unscrupulous smugglers, unseaworthy vessels, and the elements; but many take these risks for the lure of a better life.

The smuggling season normally stops in October, and resumes in April.

But the IOM said there has been no lull this year and the smuggling boats have been sailing right through the winter.

I guess we can come to this conclusion going from the notion that for every 4 black persons 1 is Nigerian.


How can we stop this madness

Instead of dying on the Libyan coast, Nigerians need to DIE fighitng for thier freedom from these thieves called leaders.

May the blood of these innocent citizens go on all corrupt and thieveing policitians and thier families. Ameen!

OBVIOUS:

Instead of dying on the Libyan coast, Nigerians need to DIE fighitng for thier freedom from these thieves called leaders.

May the  blood of these innocent citizens go on all corrupt and thieveing policitians and thier families. Ameen!

Exactly my sentiment.
If we can take such risks, why cant we do it on the area we stand to gain more; liberate ourselves from the thieving leaders?

May their souls rest in peace.

This is what happens when you have leaders who don't care about their people. So sad. God bless them.

Am surprised that Egyptians were part of the euro bound drowners so to speak.
Is nt Egyptian economy one of the most robust in africa?

blacksta:

I guess we can come to this conclusion going from the notion that for every 4 black persons 1 is Nigerian.


How can we stop this madness

the pictures of the awesome strides being taken by the government which you have graciously posted is a way of helping change the perception of hopelessness in nigerians,the rebranding exercise will also go a long way in helping change the general perception that therte is no opportunities in nigeria,actual participants who have undergone the journey should come out and relate their experiences, possibly set up charities to focus on the ethnicities/states where majority of nigerians who undertakle this journey come from, i have not seen northerners amongst the dead,neither have i seen much yorubas or ibos,they have mostly been from edo,bendel e.t.c so the campaign/charities should focus on these areas,opportunities should be made available to the dissilutioned young men/women,the micro finance man that started grammen bank was never a government official but a private individual who took it upon himself to start the micro finance thing with about 20 indian women which has now grown to millions of mostly women,where are the individuals doing that for the young men and women?instead of leaving it all to the government, the "madness"can be stopped by a holistic approach to the problem

The Nigerians who think going to Europe or America is going to end their woes are fools, because these tragedies are not new and they never learn from the terrible mistakes of others.

The Whiteman's land is not paradise on earth.

people rush out of the country mostly to European countries & American at all cost and taken all sorts of risk but the plain truth is that when they eventually made it there comes a big disappointment because all they've heard they found out is nothing but a blatant lies.I have been to some European countries nothing so special except social amenities which i think is possible also in Nigeria but i blame this on our good for nothing leaders. Nemesis will catch up on them some day.