Nigerians Stranded In Lybia, Cry Out For Help

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Nigerians in Lybia have cried out over their safety, asking for help from President Goodluck Jonathan.

The stranded Nigerians most of whom are said to be hiding due to xenophobic attacks on black people in the country as the protest aimed at the removal of Muamar Gaddafi becomes bloodier, have also written to President Jonathan urging him to assist in airlifting them from the country.

The letter was titled ‘President Goodluck Jonathan Air Lift Nigerians From Libya Now!’ and written on their behalf by the Campaign For The Rights of Nigerians in Diaspora (CRND).

The letter stated that the protest in Libya has taken a new dimension, as protesters have broken prisons and detention camps in Tripoli causing the death of more than 256

“The protesters also resorted to xenophobic attack, as Libyans vent their anger on black foreigners in reaction to the killing of Libyan citizens by security forces on the order of Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

“This portends great danger for Nigerians in Libya, as calls are being put through to us from hide outs by Nigerians in Libya, to call on the Nigerian government to come to their rescue.

“Mr. Solomon Okoduwa, who is an elder in the Nigerian community in Libya, has lived in Libya for 35 years, married a Libyan woman and owns a fishing business.

“He called us under a very low tone as he is hiding from being lynched by angry protesters. He is demanding that the Nigerian government should come to their aid and air lift them from Libya before they become victims of xenophobic attack.

“We find it difficult to understand why the Nigerian government will need to be told of the dangers that will befall Nigerians in Libya in a period like this, considering the frequent killings of Nigerians in Libya before the uprising,” the letter said.

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Also, the Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation has called on the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration to give orders for the evacuation of Nigerians living in Lybia, and to take a firm stand on the on-going crisis in the North African country.

This call, according to the campaign organization has become necessary, following news reports which state that the army has embarked on crackdown to stop protesters who are demanding that the Libyan dictator steps down from power. Muammar Gadhafi, who has ruled the country for 41 years, ordered the used of lethal force on his own people. His son said the Libyan army will fight to “the last man, the last woman and the last bullet.” There are reports of fighter jets dropping bombs and shooting at people on the streets of Tripoli and Benghazi, and over 400 people are feared dead. International political analysts also believe that the stance of the younger Gadhafi might fuel a civil war.

“I’m so surprised the federal government has not made a public statement condemning these murders. Mr. President should call on Gadhafi to negotiate with the protesters,” Ibrahim Modibbo, the Media and Communication Director of the campaign organization, said. “In the meantime, airplanes should be made available for the immediate evacuation of the Nigerians living there. Their safety should be the immediate concern of the Federal Government.

“The world is watching and keeping silent is not going to help those peopleIf Libyans demand for change and are going out on the streets to demand for it, I believe it’s within their rights to do so. The reckless killings by Gadhafi’s men should stop immediately.”

Mr. Modibbo also praised the courage of the two Libyan pilots who chose to seek asylum in Malta, rather than obey the orders to shoot on their countrymen, calling them “true heroes” for refusing to kill their people, as ordered by the country’s dictator, saying “they, (the soldiers) have exhibited the highest form of service as demanded of them, which is to protect and not kill, the people.

He also asked the Nigerian President to use his position as the chair of the Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS) to investigate the rumours of Chadian mercenaries being hired by the Libyan dictator to kill protesters.

In response, the presidency has said it is not prepared to airlift Nigerians from Lybia as they were not facing threats to their lives.

In a statement made public by the government and signed by Special Assistant on Media to the President, Ima Niboro, the government said it was still watching the situation in the country and would take action when necessary.

—Eromosele Ebhomele

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