A Nigerian woman stranded in Libya has appealed to Nigerian authorities, including the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri, for urgent assistance to return home, citing threats to her safety.

The appeal was made in a video shared on social media on Tuesday morning, in which the woman was seen visibly distressed and crying while pleading for help.

Speaking in both English and Yoruba, she said her situation had become precarious due to her undocumented status in Libya.

“If help does not come soon, I may be arrested by the Libyan authorities and sent to prison,” she said, describing the constant fear she lives under.

The woman explained that Libyan security forces are conducting frequent raids in her area, and being caught would mean immediate imprisonment.

“I am hiding now, but every time security operatives come, I fear they will find me. I need to return to Nigeria before it is too late,” she said.

Her video has since circulated widely on social media, drawing attention to the challenges faced by undocumented Nigerians in Libya and prompting calls for swift intervention by NiDCOM and the Nigerian Foreign Ministry.

Nigerian authorities have previously conducted evacuation and repatriation efforts for citizens in Libya, but the woman’s plea suggests there are still individuals in urgent need of assistance. (The Guardian)