A physically challenged tailor in Benin City, Edo State Frank Obeahon has narrated how he attempted to leave Nigeria for Europe through Libya despite the risks.
In an interview with The Punch published on Wednesday, Mr Obeahon said he was stranded in Libya for eight months after the failed attempt to migrate.
Born on April 9, 1990, Obeahon is the first child out of nine children born by his parents. Two of his siblings are late, leaving seven behind.
His mother died on December 11, 2014, while his father followed on May 5, 2020. They both died from complications from separate motor accidents.
Obeahon said he dropped out of Ambrose Alli University in 2013 after just a year as his parents were unable to cater for his tuition.
He said he left Nigeria with four of his friends to Libya by road.
“I had intended to proceed to Italy. I became stranded in Libya because I did not have money with me to proceed to Italy.
“At some points, my other four friends left Libya, because their parents sent money to them. Some went beyond Italy to Germany, Holland, and the United Kingdom. Sadly, I spent eight months in Libya before I made up my mind to return to Nigeria,” he said.
Obeahon also said he had to sell Indian hemp for someone from the Middle East in order to survive in Libya.
“I felt pained and so bad, but God knew the best for me. I was not living a responsible life in Libya, and the so-called money I was looking for was not forthcoming. The aim of my travelling was to make money but when I found out that it was not working, I returned to Nigeria. It was shortly after I came back that my mum passed away,” he said.
