31 Nigerians drowned while crossing to Italy fron Libya

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.