AFP – Italian media reported today that Nigerian migrants were among
several dozen people who drowned weekend off the coast of Libya, while
attempting to cross into Italy. Thirty one migrants, including nine
women, drowned off the coast of Libya during an attempted crossing to
Italy according to survivors who managed to complete the journey,
Italian media reported Sunday.
A dinghy carrying 53 migrants
capsized on Friday evening, and witnesses said 31 of those who had been
thrown off it drowned in the accident.
The twenty two survivors,
who come from Nigeria, Gambia, Benin and Senegal, said the dinghy had
capsized after three days at sea. They were rescued by a passing
merchant ship and taken to Lampedusa island, the reports said.