Governor Obaseki receiving a batch of Edo returnees from Libya

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Edo State government Thursday disclosed that eight Libya Returnees who were burnt to death in a ghastly road crash which occurred on Tuesday, along the Lagos/Ijebu Ode highway, embarked on an unauthorized journey at night.

The Secretary, Edo State Government Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Abieyuwa Oyemwense, made this disclosure in a statement she issued in Benin.

Recall that the incident occurred at about 10:45 pm on the fateful day, when a white 18-seater commercial Toyota Hiace bus, with registration number, AYB 497 XA, collided with a blue and white Volvo truck with registration number, KSF 79 XL, close to Omoo River, J4 area of the route.

Oyemwense who described the incident as sad and unfortunate, said the affected Returnees left the welcome-back facility set up bay the State government on the pretense that they were going to their respective families, after being profiled.

“The Returnees involved in the road mishap had been profiled by the Task force and were duly informed of the details relating to the payment of their stipend, skills and empowerment training packages put together by the Edo State Government for them.

“The Returnees involved in the accident had left the welcome-back facility, set up by the State government to welcome Libya Returnees who are indigenes of Edo, on the claim that they are going to their respective homes to reunite with their families, only for them to embark on an unauthorised journey at night.

“While we acknowledge the right of the returnees to free movement, we warned against traveling at night,” the statement said.

While expressing sadness over the accident, the Task force urged Returnees in her facility to utilise the period, pending the payment of their stipend and training, to visit their families and reunite with them, adding that such will enable them recover fully from their sufferings in the desert and on the high sea in Libya.

It also commiserated with families of the deceased Libya Returnees and prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.