Investigative journalist and Foundation for Investigative Journalism founder, Fisayo Soyombo, has warned Nigerians considering irregular migration to Libya that they may encounter even harsher conditions after arriving in the country.
Soyombo gave the warning during an interview with ARISE News on Sunday while discussing his 47-day undercover journey from Kano through Niger to Tripoli, during which he documented the experiences of migrants travelling along the Sahara Route.
He explained that some Nigerians facing economic hardship may view migration as a way out without fully understanding the difficulties awaiting them in Libya.
According to him, many migrants become stranded after reaching Libya because they run out of money and are unable to continue their journey to Europe. Some then take up menial jobs to survive and save enough money for another attempt to cross.
Soyombo also said irregular migrants face difficulties accessing formal banking services because of their immigration status, leaving some to keep their money in cash and making them vulnerable to theft.
He further described the difficult conditions faced by migrants who work on farms in the desert, particularly the extreme heat. He recounted an incident in which some migrants were allegedly taken to a farm, made to work for several hours and not paid.
Soyombo said the migrants were subsequently robbed of their cash and returned to the farm to work, leaving them with little opportunity to seek help or challenge their treatment.
Despite the difficulties, he said he would not blame Nigerians who had travelled to Libya, noting that some migrants he met told him they would not have made the journey if they had known beforehand how challenging it would be.
He explained that his undercover investigation was aimed at giving Nigerians considering the route firsthand information about the risks involved so they could make better-informed decisions.
Soyombo also stressed that the journey through the Sahara Route is unpredictable. He said he spent six months preparing for his investigation and was initially told it would take about 30 days, but the journey eventually lasted 47 days.
He urged Nigerians to understand the realities of the route before embarking on it, saying his documentation was intended to show prospective migrants what they could encounter along the journey.
