The federal government has said that it had written to the Italian Embassy asking it why the 26 migrants recovered from the Mediterranean Sea were buried nine days before the agreed date.
Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, told a news conference in Abuja yesterday that three bodies were identified as Nigerians.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said time was not given for adequate identification of the girls and feedback on investigations carried out by the relevant authorities in Italy adding that the government would investigate at the “highest diplomatic level.”
“It was shocking to watch the burial of these migrants on television, I think on November 17, because the information from the Italian Embassy to National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) was the fact that these girls would be buried on November 26.
“We are asking the Italian authorities, and we have communicated a letter through the Italian Embassy here in Nigeria, why these girls were buried nine days before the agreed date.
“Secondly, where are the results of the pathological tests that were done, who conducted the DNA tests and how do we now identify that all 26 girls were Nigerians?
“From available information coming from Italy as I speak, about three girls can be identified to be Nigerians.
“Did Italy get the permission to go ahead with the burial of these girls no matter their nationalities? We appeal to the Italian authorities, we are going to take this up at the highest diplomatic level and we are going to get answers.”
She said 64 migrants were involved in the accident with many bodies unaccounted for and more questions to be answered by the Italian authorities.
She added that the Director-General of NAPTIP was currently in Italy working out further communications on the next step to take.
“The fact is at the other end, they are not willing to save irregular migrants any more so it is going to get tougher and dangerous.” (Premium Times)
