After five terrifying months in Sunaya Prison in Libya, 32-year-old Titilopeyemi Olaniyi, a widow and mother of two from Lagos State, returned to Nigeria in January 2025, according to a report by Punch Newspaper..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
She started her journey when she went north in search of employment and ended up being held at the facility outside of Tripoli under mysterious circumstances. She spent days without adequate food or medical care before her case received any attention, and the conditions in that institution were well below acceptable limits.
There was extreme congestion and poor sanitation inside Sunaya Prison. Ten-person cells frequently housed more than three times as many inmates, forcing them to sleep on chilly concrete floors. Water rationing left many prisoners dehydrated for extended periods of time, and basic hygiene supplies were limited. Olaniyi saw fellow Nigerians become ill for weeks without receiving treatment as medical problems, from small infections to more serious ailments, were treated with apathy. Olaniyi claims that the Nigerian embassy in Libya did not provide the same degree of assistance as other countries in spite of repeated requests.
According to reports, other diplomatic missions provided their citizens with food, clothing, and amenities, but Nigerian officials only came to document those who wanted to go back home. The embassy’s outreach, emboldened by the large volume of jailed citizens, prioritized processing deportation requests above attending to urgent prison welfare requirements. The case of Olaniyi brings to light broader worries regarding Nigeria’s diplomatic duties throughout the region. In order to guarantee that citizens overseas are watched over and supported, particularly during emergencies, observers highlight the necessity of better coordination between diplomatic personnel and local authorities. By bridging the gap between embassy support staff and detention facilities, trustworthy communication channels could ensure that Nigerians in need of assistance receive timely updates on court processes and access to redress.
When Olaniyi eventually returned to Lagos, the human cost of these mistakes became clear. She struggles to reconstruct her life and support her two small children while dealing with psychological trauma and persistent health issues. Due to the lack of medical evaluations or counseling services provided by the embassy upon her return, her family and neighborhood nonprofits are now responsible for covering crucial gaps in her recuperation. “Nigerians are not being treated well by the Nigerian embassy in Libya,” she stated. Relief goods like food, clothing, hygiene, and other necessities are typically brought by foreign embassies when they visit their countrymen. However, the Nigerian embassy is simply there to inquire about the deportation of Nigerian convicts.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>