Citizen NewsNG 
RE: NIGERIAN FOR SALE IN LEBANON
-by Ade Omole.
Dear Compatriots,
I would like to *commend the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission [NIDCOM], Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and her team for the swift investigation and prompt diplomatic action(s) taken to quickly bring this obnoxious transaction to an end*. The culprit was arrested earlier today in Lebanon and awaiting due prosecution. Hopefully, the victim is presently in safe custody.
I have also read few demeaning comments and erroneous conclusions on social media but here are the facts to debunk the salacious tales shared on social media especially through WhatsApp:
a) A Lebanese man named Wael Jerro had advertised the victim, Busari Peace, with her Nigerian passport on the Facebook page – Buy and Sell in Lebanon. He added a price tag of $1,000 on the 30-year-old Ibadan, Oyo State, indigene.
b) The despicable advert was quickly picked up and NIDCOM notified accordingly. On the same day, the Chairman of NIDCOM, Hon Dabiri-Erewa and her team swung into action, working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIDCOM contacted the Embassy in Lebanon to register Nigeria’s complaint with the Lebanese government by condemning the criminal act, requested for the immediate safe return of the victim without any condition(s); and finally the man-hunt, arrest and prosecution of the culprit.
c) NIDCOM followed up on daily basis with the embassy and kept Nigerians up to update on progress throughout the process by issuing regular press releases and posting required info on their social media platforms especially on their twitter handle (see copy of press below)
d) Earlier today, the culprit (suspect) was arrested by Lebanon’s General Security (GS) agency, the country’s leading intelligence agency, which also controls entry and exit from the small Mediterranean nation. General Security said an investigation was under way in the case, and warned that advertising people online violated the country’s human trafficking laws, subjecting perpetrators to prosecution. *The arrest came after Nigeria’s protest and strong condemnation of the criminal act. In response, Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najem had ordered the judiciary on Wednesday to follow up on the case, citing Lebanon’s anti-human trafficking law. Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour also released a statement saying anyone who advertises domestic workers online would be prosecuted*. Najem said in the statement that the case represented a “blatant violation of human dignity”.
As expected, Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIDCOM, NAPTIP, Nigeria embassy in Lebanon work as one team to ensure the protection of Nigeria citizens and interest(s) abroad.
Kudos to the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Ministry, NIDCOM and all agencies that pulled together to secure the safe release and return of Ms. Busari Peace.
