How Libyan man shot me – Deportee

A 25-year-old man, Amos Oghogho, has narrated his traumatic experience in Libya and how an Arab in the country, shot him in the arm.

Oghogho, who hails from Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, was among the 275 returnees received by the Edo State Task Force against Human Trafficking on Wednesday.

He told Southern City News that he had in June, left the shores of Nigeria to Libya, through the hot Sahara Desert, in search of a better life.

Oghogho stated that he was arrested by a policeman in Tripoli and kept in a cell for three months.

He explained that he was filled with joy when he learnt that some Nigerian diplomats arrived at a returnees’ camp on November 12 to arrange the repatriation of Nigerians stranded in the North African country.

“On that fateful day, I saw our (Nigerian) ambassador and was very happy and wanted to register. I did not eat that day because I was excited. But one of the Arabs saw me going to the line and ordered me to go back,” Oghogho added.

The 25-year-old returnee, however, noted that his happiness turned into a tragedy when another armed man shot him in the arm, in an attempt to enforce the instruction.

Oghogho explained, “I informed him (armed Libyan) that I was a Nigerian and wanted to get registered. As I was going, another man wanted to use his gun to hit my hand, but fired a bullet into my arm. I did not know his intention.

“I was shocked when the bullet hit me. I cried and fainted; the blood on the ground was so much. The next thing I knew was that I found myself in a hospital. The International Organisation for Migration did the surgery for me there in Tripoli.”

The returnee also described his stay in Libya as a sad experience, saying,

“I was in Sabah for six months. I used to wash cars there. But I had to leave for Tripoli due to the activities of kidnappers in the area. But I was caught on a street by the police and was taken to prison.

“In the prison, our food was drugged. The condition was very bad. I did not take my bath for three months. They told us that we would be deported, not knowing that they were just telling us stories.
 “They used us for business; they used to take us to different farms to work. We ate once a day. We were fed something that looked like macaroni.”

While expressing appreciation for being brought back to home, he appealed to the state government to assist him with his medical treatment.

Oghogho said, “I am very happy to be home. But since I left the hospital, I have not received any medication. I appeal to the state government to assist me because I cannot sleep at night.”