Thirty ladies in a viral video appealing to Federal Government for help have been rescued by the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon, and have been relocated to a more conducive apartment.
MDB reported that the ladies trafficked to Lebanon were seen in the viral video crying out for help.
They also made formal appeal in a statement through the President of Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM), Mr Ajibola Abayomi.
Abayomi said that the message was being relayed based on an encounter with the victims, which necessitated the call for a speedy rescue action from government
Read Also: ‘Our Lives Are In Danger’ – 30 Nigerian Ladies Stranded In Lebanon Appeal To FG For Rescue (video)
Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in a statement on Tuesday, August 4 has now announced that the ladies have been rescued.
It stated that they will be part of 150 other Nigeria trafficked and stranded in Lebanon to be evacuated back to the country.
In the statement, Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Houssam Diab disclosed the evacuation plans when the Management of NIDCOM, led by the Secretary of the commission, Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi visited the Embassy in Abuja.
Ambassador Diab stated that the 150 girls will be returned home in batches between August 12 and 16, 2020.
The first batch of 110 will leave Beirut, Lebanon on 12th, August, 2020 to Lagos while the second batch will be returned to Abuja on 16th, August, 2020.
The diplomat commended the efforts of the Lebanese Community and the Oyo State Government who is sponsoring the return of 55 girls.
In the same vein, Dr Sule Yakubi Bassi on behalf of the Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa applauded the excellent ties existing between Nigeria and Lebanon, urging both countries to sustain the cordial relationship.
Dr Bassi also commended the dedication and commitment of Nigerian Ambassador to Lebanon, Amb. Goni Madu Zanna Bura, Mission staff, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Oyo and Ogun State Governments, and other strategic partners.
Read Also: Oyo Govt. To Repatriate Trafficked Indigenes Stranded In Lebanon
NiDCOM added;
Suffice it to say that 150 of these stranded victims are expected to be evacuated next week and handed over to NAPTIP, the agency responsible for (dealing with human) trafficking.
A break down of the evacuees shows that Oyo State had 41, Ogun 21, Lagos 12, Ondo 18, Osun 26, and Imo 3. Others are Kwara (9), Enugu (1), Ekiti (6), Kogi (1), Edo (1), Delta (3), Ebonyi (1), Benue (1), Abia (1), Akwa Ibom (1), and Anambra (1).
