Investigative journalist and founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Fisayo Soyombo, has warned Nigerians considering irregular migration to Libya in search of better economic opportunities, saying they could face even more difficult conditions there.
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 through the Sahara Route.
According to him, Nigerians facing economic hardship may view migration as an escape without fully understanding the dangers and difficulties awaiting them in Libya.
“When you are trying to escape economic deprivation, you think that any other option is good. The options in Libya are worse,” he said.
Soyombo explained that some migrants arrive in Libya only to discover that they cannot continue their journey to Europe after running out of money. They are then forced to take up various jobs to survive and save enough money for another attempt to cross into Europe.
He also said irregular migrants face difficulties accessing formal financial services because they cannot easily open bank accounts, forcing many to keep their money as cash and leaving them vulnerable to theft.
According to him, some Nigerians also engage in agricultural labour in the desert, where they are exposed to extremely high temperatures and, in some cases, may not receive payment for their work.
Soyombo recounted an incident during his investigation in which some migrants were allegedly taken to a farm and made to work for several hours under the scorching sun without payment.
He further alleged that the migrants were later robbed of their cash and forced to return to the farm to work.
Despite the difficulties, Soyombo said he did not blame Nigerians who had travelled to Libya, noting that some migrants told him they would not have embarked on the journey if they had known how difficult it would become.
He said his investigation was aimed at providing first-hand information about the dangers of irregular migration and helping Nigerians make informed decisions before embarking on the journey.
Soyombo also stressed that the journey through the Sahara Route was highly unpredictable. He said he spent six months preparing for his investigation and was initially told to expect the journey to last about 30 days, but it eventually took him 47 days.
He urged Nigerians considering the route to understand the risks involved, saying the journey is significantly more dangerous than many people realise.
According to him, documenting his experience through photographs and videos was intended to show prospective migrants what they could encounter along the route and in Libya.
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