FG demands explanation from Italy over burial of 26 girls

The Federal Government has expressed dismay over Italy ’ s hasty burial of the 26 Nigerian girls who were found dead on the Mediterranean Sea .

The bodies of the girls were found on a sinking vessel on the Mediterranean about two weeks ago and there were reports that they might have been sexually abused
before they were murdered .

Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri - Erewa , told journalists in Abuja on Monday that the Italian Embassy had earlier indicated to the Director General , National Agency for
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons that the burial of the girls would take place in Salerno , Italy on November 26 , 2017 .

But the Italian authorities , she said , went ahead with the burial last Friday , without informing the Nigerian government , adding that the NAPTIP director was
currently in Italy to engage with the Italian authorities ahead of the scheduled burial date .

The SSA , who addressed newsmen alongside a NAPTIP representative , Mr . Abdulrahim Shaibu , explained that a
protest letter had been sent to the Italian envoy in Nigeria over the matter .

“ Why were they ( the bodies ) hurriedly buried nine days before the date communicated to the DG , NAPTIP by the
Italian Embassy without any information to the Nigerian Government? Why the rush to bury the bodies without carrying out a post - mortem to determine the causes of
death ?” she queried .

Dabiri - Erewa said information indicated that only three of the girls were identified as Nigerians , noting that the identities of the other victims had yet to be ascertained
before they were interred .

She noted that another issue of concern was that the victims ’ families might have wanted them buried in their countries of origin .

The SSA also condemned the reported sale of Africans in a Libyan slave market as broadcast by the CNN , saying
this was unacceptable , despicable and inhuman.

She said , “ On the issue of Africans sold by Africans in Libya to Europe , as reported by the CNN in a report titled , ‘ People for sale ; where lives are auctioned for $400 , ’ this is totally unacceptable , despicable , and
inhuman and should be condemned by anyone who is human and has blood running through their veins. ”


International Organisation on Migration and the Economic Community for West African States , to intervene in the matter and tackle the issue of slavery happening in Libya .

“ The perpetrators of this heinous crime should also be
sanctioned , ” she added .


















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