John* is a 42 year old man. There is a composure in his voice and a sadness in his eyes as he tells his story. He’s escaped his village in Nigeria’s Edo State, leaving his wife and kids behind, after suffering the violence of Boko Haram. He hopes to gain international protection in Europe and to be able to bring his family into safety.
«What brought me to Libya is the insecurity in our country: Boko Haram killing our people, they even killed my mother. I managed to rescue my wife and my sons, my daughter, and my dad but they burned my village, even my father’s house. That’s the reason why I decided to leave Nigeria. That is the reason why I risked my life in this sea».
But John’s journey was not an easy one: as countless people before him, the treacherous journey trough the desert and the dangers of Libya awaited for him.
«On the road there are bad people, like a mafia. They robbed us, they collected our phones, even the little money I had in my pockets. They also beat me, stabbed me in my forehead to make sure that I will not get to my destination. But God was so kind, I managed to succeed and arrive in Libya. I spent over a month on the road before I got there».
Before al the violence and pain, John and his family led normal lives: «I’m a professional welder. Yes, I had a job. I have wife, two boys and one girl. My first born is 12 years old, my daughter is 11. My third child, the second boy is 6 months now». All of this was turned upside down by Boko Haram invading his village and burning it down.
«Even in Nigeria, the road is not safe, lots of Boko Haram people on the road. I entered a big truck and thank God we passed into Niger. We used bikes to pass the desert. On my way to Algeria I spent over a week in the desert. Then they carried us in another place wile we were waiting to cross. They said we should ‘relax’ in this place. We spend 2 weeks therebefore we managed to get to Algeria and more to then get to Libya. How is the journey? It’s very bad. Lots of people have died in that desert. Even during my journey is so many people have died: lack of water, no food. Many of them have no strength, they just give up».
«When I arrived in Libya, I managed to try to work with someone. When came the time to pay me, he would not. Ha said that it was’nt my country, so ‘if you like it, if you don’t like it, you don’t, I will not pay’. I worked two months for no money. That’s why I decided to say no, I will not stay in that country: let me try my best to move forward. So I decided to cross the sea».
But the water itself is treacherous.
«Everybody was scared on the water. The way the wave is moving our boat… I was just praying to my God. I prayed: ‘My God, do not let me die because if I’m gone, who will take care of my family for me?’. That is my prayer in my mind».
Then John* was rescued from a rubber boat along with other survivors by the Ocean Viking. He can plan a future now, finally safe. He has plans.
«When I will get to Italy, I want to bring my family over. Whatever they say, I will do it. I want to stay, learn the language so that I will manage to bring my family so that we will live a better life. Also I’d like to go to school: I want to learn the language and how to read and write perfectly. I will work hard to make sure that I survive so that my family will not suffer, I will make sure that I save money to provide for my family because my dad is not well. I struggle for everybody to make sure that we survive. That is it».
Photo: Javier Alvarez/SOS MEDITERRANEE
