Rev. Father Mario David Dibie, Spiritual Director of Lumen Christi Family Adoration Ministries, on Wednesday 6th February 2019, received 150 Libya returnees who are Ika indigenes, at Mary Hill Restoration Prayer Garden City, Old Abraka Road, Owa-Nta, in Ika North East Local Government Area.
He proceeded to have lunch and a prayer session with them, thanking God for keeping them alive and bringing them home safely, which he called a testimony.
The Catholic Priest, while addressing the returnees said many who embarked on the same journey with them have either lost their lives or are facing hardship in Libya. He therefore advised them to beware of the inordinate quest for riches, stating that riches comes through hard work, commitment, dedication, patience, and God’s favour. He encouraged them to engage themselves in profitable and legal businesses, skills education, which will help them to establish themselves in life. Then, he promised to continue praying for them, which he said he had been doing even before their return.
I WILL LIVE TO SEE MY SON BECOME PRESIDENT–Pa Arthur Okowa
According to Godspower Sylvester, the convener of the group, “it pains me seeing our people dying in Libya. Some are in prison and many others are suffering, because we were deceived by our friends who promised to cross us to ltaly. We came back through the help of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we decided to come together under one umbrella, as Ika Returnees Association. Indeed, coming back is a great testimony.”
One of the returnees, Ebube Okafor, who spoke to Ika Weekly reporter said, “Libya is hell. Going to Libya was the worst mistake of my life. I was put in prison for many months after surviving the desert where so many people died, because of the heat of the sun. Thank God I came back alive.”
Simon Kelvin, another returnee also said he regretted going to Libya where there is no modicum of humanity. “I saw death, but I thank God for saving me,” he said.