Five migrants are currently being interrogated in the southern port of Salerno, Campania, over the death of 26 women, aged between 14 and 18, Nigerians, who reportedly died after allegedly drowning on an Italy bound rubber dinghy. The bodies were discovered floating on the Mediterranean, by a Spanish vessel on Sunday, November 5th, 2017.
Reports claimed 23 of the 26 deceased were on a rubber boat with 64 others. The bodies were among 34 other bodies recovered, while about 50 other persons are reportedly still missing.
The identities of the woman is not yet revealed and so far, no family has stepped forward to claim the deceased since news of the incident filtered in.
52 children including a newborn, and 90 women, of which 8 are reportedly pregnant, were rescued on Sunday. While a total of about 400 people were rescued in four attempts by the Spanish ship over the weekend.
Narrating the tragic incident, some of the survivors consisting of Nigerians, Ghanaians, Gambians, Senegalese and Sudanese said the warship departed from Lybia.
Italian officials said they are investigating to ascertain if the women were sexually assaulted, why all the recovered bodies were females, and if the incident was as a result of sex-trafficking.
The short distance between Libya and Italy's Lampedusa Island has over the years become a haven for smugglers.
Families of these young women, and all casualties involved needs to be contacted, they need to come forward....to give the deceased identities.
Saying they are Africans and Nigerians is not enough. Each and every single one of the casualties have backgrounds, families and friends. There is need for closure.
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