Two Nigerians identified simply as Collins and Osas have reportedly died in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, under circumstances suspected to be linked to poisoning.
Our correspondent gathered on Saturday that the victims, who were both residing in the Misrata part of the country, had travelled to Tripoli on July 20 with a friend whose identity is yet unknown.
Sources privy to the incident said that after spending some days there, the friend advised the two to return with him to Misrata.
They, however, allegedly refused, insisting they wanted to stay longer.
One of the sources who is also related to the late Collins, said on Saturday that the friend was said to have left them behind and returned alone to Misrata.
According to him, he later received a call that his two companions had died after allegedly being poisoned.
“We were told that the three of them lived in Misrata and that they all went to a place called Oshofana in Tripoli to have fun. This was July 20. Although Collins and Osas were not familiar with the place, it was their first time there. They said it is a place where they run different kinds of deals.
“So, after spending four days there, the friend whom they followed to the place said he was about to return to Misrata, but Collins and Osas said they were still going to stay behind. Then, he left them there and went back. It was about two days later that he claimed to have received a call that his two colleagues had died of what was suspected to be food poisoning,” the source narrated.
Another source based in the country stated that the incident had since generated controversy.
The account of their friend who returned home was also said to have raised suspicion.
“Given the nature of what we all know Oshofana to be, the narration of the person they followed to the place raises suspicion. That was what he told us because no one went with them. But some of our colleagues here are not satisfied with his explanation, and they are following up with the ongoing investigation to determine the cause of their death,” the source disclosed.
The source added that the deceased friends had since been buried in the country.
When contacted on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Adulrahman Balogun, said he was not aware of the incident.
He said, “I am not aware of the incident. Their families can write a petition to us as a commission, and we will work on it.”
It was reported that two Nigerians, identified simply as Austin and Ayo, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Durban, South Africa. The incident occurred on Thursday, July 9.
It was gathered that the gunmen, numbering three, stormed Austin’s office around 8 pm.
Upon gaining entry into the office, the gunmen, who were said to be wearing masks, met both of them and shot them on the spot.
A friend of one of the deceased, who identified himself simply as Fidelis, told our correspondent on the telephone that both died on the spot.
