Gbenro Adesina
The Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Houssam Diab has disclosed that 30 Nigerians in a video that recently went viral, appealing for help to come back to Nigeria have been rescued by the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon, and have been relocated to a more conducive apartment.
Diab, according to a statement signed by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, NIDCOM, said that they would be part of 150 trafficked and stranded in Lebanon to be evacuated back to Nigeria adding that the 150 girls would be returned home in batches.
“The first batch of One Hundred and Ten (110) will leave Beirut, Lebanon on 12th, August, 2020 to Lagos while the Second Batch will be returned to Abuja on 16th, August, 2020”, he said.
The Diplomat commended the efforts of the Lebanese Community and the Oyo State Government, who is sponsoring the return of 55 of the girls as well as the Secretary to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Dr Sule Yakubi Bassi, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa for the excellent ties existing between Nigeria and Lebanon and urged both countries to sustain the cordial relationship.
The breakdown of the evacuation procedures revealed:
Oyo State, 41, Ogun, 21 Lagos, 12, Ondo, 18, Osun, 26, Imo, 3, Kwara, 9, Enugu,1, Ekiti, 6 Kogi, 1 11, Edo, 1, Delta, 3, Ebonyi,1, Benue, 1, Abia, 1, Akwa Ibom,1 and Anambra, 1.
