Recently, 26 Nigerian girls were reported to have died on the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to cross to Europe. It was alleged that some were sexually abused and murdered. However, Italy buried the girls last week, prompting a Nigerian government inquiry. But does Italy owe us any explanation? Daily Trust went to town.
Najib Sani, 32, Journalist, Bauchi
In the first instance, the circumstances surrounding the Nigerian girls’ death must be investigated. This thing has been happening and there are always victims. Although we cannot deny the fact that whoever crosses the Mediterranean to Europe illegally is at fault, we are talking of human lives here. So, the Italian government owes the Nigerian government an explanation. We cannot be treated like trash when it comes to anything African. Illegal immigrants may be a nuisance in Europe, but we are not animals and we should not be treated as such. For me apart from giving an explanation to the Nigerian government on the matter, families of the victims must also be considered and involved at least for them to know that their loved ones are cared for and respected even in death and have a kind of compensation for the loss they have suffered. Their burial by the Italian authorities is also wrong because they have not even given enough time to the Nigerian government to come to terms with the tragedy and also the families of the victims.
Bashir Hassan, 50, Bauchi, Public Servant
Yes, certainly, the Nigerian government needs an explanation from the Italian government on this. What will it cost the Italian government to ship the bodies back to the victims’ families in Nigeria or at least tracing them and taking them to Italy to witness the burial. The Europeans should know that Africans are not slaves or an inferior race. We are humans. Yes, our economic situation may drive us to do crazy things, but we have dignity as humans. Dying in the Mediterranean is not unusual; it has become an almost daily occurrence. People die there and others will still follow the same route risking their lives. These victims who died have families at home that love them even in death. So that must be considered in the first place. Their families should have been contacted through the Nigerian government. I wonder who approved the burial in Italy. Is it the Nigerian government or just a unilateral decision of the Italian government? We have to be realistic in situations like this. Our government must protect the rights of its citizens even in death and that will make anybody and any country to respect us as humans.
Fatima Idris Danjuma, 44, Journalist, Bauchi
The Italian government owes an explanation to not only the Nigerian government but the families of the victims and other Nigerians because we all have a stake in this tragedy. It is a national tragedy when a country loses her citizens on the high seas in their attempt to cross to Europe in search of the so called ‘greener pastures’. I wonder what would have happened if the victims are Italians and died here on the Atlantic. These people don’t ordinarily allow Africans to be buried in their land without conditions that are sometimes almost impossible. So, why the hurry in this case? Nigerian government must investigate and tell its citizens why the victims were hurriedly buried in a foreign land without proper involvement of both the government and families of the victims. The quicker they do this, the better. If not, other countries will do the same and the trend will continue. By the look of things, there must be something fishy. These victims were just treated like common criminals who wanted to cross to Europe illegally and died. So, our government must demand details of all that transpired and what really happened to the victims. We cannot just believe there was a funeral for the victims and everything just fizzles away as if nothing happened. There are rights which are recognised globally in UN Charters and it is not for some select few but for all humanity and Africans are also humans.
Yusuf Abubakar Dingyadi, 50, Politician, Sokoto
Nigerians should not be distracted by the explanations given by the Italian government over the death of these girls. There is need for urgent joint committee of investigators that consist of forensic experts due to alleged human rights violations and sexual abuse as reported. The value and dignity of Nigerians must be respected. After a careful and thorough analysis of all available facts and reports over the causes of deaths, FG needs to commission an investigation along with some experts on forensic investigations in order to ascertain the level of involvement of those personnel who allegedly rescued the victims. The Italian authorities’ position on the issue must be ascertained.
Jerry Ankeli, 40, I.T. Specialist, Makurdi, Benue State
I think they do, whether they knew the country of origin of the girls at the time of the burial or not, those girls have families and for humanity’s sake, their families need closure, which can only come from their country. This is why Italy must explain to Nigeria.
Stephen Angbulu, 25, Quantity Surveyor, Kaduna
Although some argue that, at the time of the ‘mass’ burial, only three of the deceased girls were ‘properly’ identified to be Nigerians, that doesn’t quell the issue at hand.
The Italian authorities do owe Nigeria a concrete explanation as to the cause of death and the sudden ‘rush’ to bury the girls nine days earlier than the scheduled date of November 26 as told by the Nigerian government.
It’s easy to assume the cause of death; drowning. But autopsies still need to be carried out, especially when there are now speculations that the girls might have been sexually abused before being murdered. These girls have families and loved ones who want answers. Besides the hurried burial still leaves several questions unanswered, and Italy ought to clarify that too.
