FULL INTERVIEW
I WAS IN DEPORTATION CAMP IN LIBYA
“I was lucky to be taken into their detention camp where I met over 2,500 people who had spent one, two and three years there, all these immigrants were from different countries in Africa. l became an interpreter for the Arabs and others, and they used to send me on errands to buy food .Many die daily and I assisted them to pack these corpses and the stench of the place was unbearable”.
MANY DIED ON THE SEA, SOME SHOT BY SECURITY MEN, SOME ELECTROCUTED…..
”Our plan to go to Spain materialized when we were taken to the Seashore to go in a boat . They brought a flying boat and taught two of us how to operate it . The boat’s owner collected 700 euro from about 700 Immigrants and we were later told that only two of us would be trained to operate the boat. When we were about to cross to Malta on river, we were seeing Spain. At a point I did not want to continue the journey .We asked of those who had gone before us where they were now , no news was heard about them- whether they had landed or not. The owner of the boat made sure the money paid covered the price of his boat and gains then he trained two of us who were Immigrants and pushed us to the Sea to Malta . Not all of us got to Spain as many died on the Sea , some fell into the river while Custom officers shot many who were caught climbing the fences. Some fell while climbing the fence and , some were hit by bullets.
”While on the sea you cannot drink water, instead we were drinking the soda water we took along because the river was smelling , and you cannot drink ordinary water.
SPAIN AT LAST
”I was among the 64 Immigrants that arrived Spain with God’s mercy , we were 760 that went via boat and 64 arrived , some were shot dead, some fell into the water. It was a nasty experience”.
WHY I WAS DEPORTED
”The reason why I was deported was that I was with fake documents and I was advised by some Immigrants to go and report myself. I did report myself and sought for deportation on my own.
”I was with my South African passport with the name John Matthew .When they asked where I came from in South Africa I said ‘Johannesburg’ . I later confessed to them the truth about my identity and was taken to the Nigeria embassy where I was issued a new passport as a Nigerian. I met Nigerians who had spent years there about to be deported . A Libyan gave me 100 dollars and we boarded the plane President Obasanjo sent to Spain to evacuate us.
”From the plane we heard rumour that we would be arrested by the security men. We were told that the then President Obasanjo had ordered our arrest on landing .They rumoured it that Baba (Obasanjo) said that if we could be bold and risked our lives and took those routes to Spain through Sahara Desert then they should enlist us in the Nigerian army .But guess what happened when our plane landed and we alighted from the aircraft – we all ran away and escaped”.
Now happily married with children
MY PARENTS TOOK ME FOR GHOST …THREW SAND ON ME..
”When I arrived home, my parents threw sand on me thinking they were seeing my ghost. They said they had consulted soothsayers, Babalawos , Alfas who told them I had died and therefore had to perform the necessary rituals .It took me time to gather and adjust myself .
A FRIEND WENT MAD, OTHERS….
What of his friends whom they traveled together from Nigeria? he was asked , but the Man looked up and down then shook his head and spoke ”There were about five of my friends I knew we went together, there was one I saw that came back , he had become insane and I didn’t see him again while others who lived on our street were no longer seen till today .I guess they had died on the road too.There were some who became mentally unsound , some went back home, some back to farming , some were doing car wash , some sleeping under the bridge at Osodi …..
”When I got to the house I rented it had been re-allocated to another man ,my property had been ….I no longer trust any friend again except Jesus . Could you believe that when I got home things have changed…my business has gone and the most painful aspect of it is that my best friend before I came back had married my fiancee!.I was devastated.I did not know where to start from.I learnt that the two of them died later.’ I became jobless , nothing again!. My friends deserted me , even if you see me I didn’t look like a man that traveled out.I started sleeping and waking up in the church and serving a Pastor, one day I heard a voice and that was where the God’s work started.
MY STUPID ACTION
” Could you believe I was still tempted looking for easy way to get money? With the little money in my hand.I changed my 100dollars to naira and went to a Babalawo and told him I wanted to do juju for money .He collected money from me and gave me charcoal to lick. When I got home one of my brothers who had never been rude to me was rude to me and even slapped me during an argument . On the third day according to our agreement I went to the Babalawo .But lo and behold , the Babalawo had equipped his living room with a ceiling fan and bought a new television with my money!. From here I discovered I had been fooled . I now said it is high time I served the Lord.
Oluwadayisi Olabode is now a Prophet and a Counselor .Contact us if you need his number
Good news and much lessons to learn from this story. Well done Taiwo.
Very interesting an adventure. Real “Ogboju Ode” stuff that could be developed into a book. There was a book like that I came across in the 60s,” Oju mi ri ni India”. There was Amos Tutuola’s fiction, “The Palm Wine Drinker”. But this could be richer than the fiction. It could be written in partnership with the relevant government agency that would promote it’s lunching. Kudos Bobo the for the journey to Pultizer award.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me? https://www.binance.com/id/register?ref=T7KCZASX