A 23-year-old Nigerian woman, simply identified as Osarugbe, has died in Libya following a prolonged illness, sparking a wave of concern after reports surfaced that her family allegedly abandoned her in her time of need but is now demanding her properties.
According to anti-human trafficking advocate, Yakubu Oyiza, Osarugbe passed away at 11:33 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025, after efforts to repatriate her to Nigeria for better medical attention failed. Oyiza and her team had been mobilizing funds to bring her home after hospitals in Libya refused to treat her due to her undocumented status.
She revealed that burial arrangements, including the cost of an autopsy and securing land for burial in Libya, amounted to over ₦350,000. Despite this, some family members allegedly declined to support her medical evacuation and later failed to respond to news of her passing.
“Since yesterday that I called Osa’s family and told them their sister passed, they haven’t called me back to ask how far,” Oyiza said in a Facebook post on April 5.
Oyiza further claimed that instead of focusing on the burial, certain relatives have been more interested in claiming the deceased’s belongings.
“We haven’t even laid this girl to rest, but they are already calling us, making trouble over her properties,” she lamented.
She expressed her deep frustration with the situation and highlighted the emotional toll it has taken on her and her team.
“Most of these young girls that run to Libya have something chasing them. I am devastated.”
The tragic story has reignited conversations around the dangers faced by young Nigerian women who migrate to North Africa in search of better opportunities, often falling victim to neglect, exploitation, and abuse.
