Growing up as a church boy in Edo State, Nigeria, Jeremiah’s life revolved around faith and service to God.
That unshakable belief became his anchor as he braved the Sahara Desert, endured the horrors of human trafficking in Libya, and survived the treacherous waves of the Mediterranean Sea.
His journey was marked by unimaginable suffering: witnessing the deaths of fellow travelers, enduring starvation, and facing the cruelty of traffickers.
Yet, his faith carried him through these harrowing experiences, and today, Jeremiah uses his survival as a platform to protect others.
Jeremiah came from a family of eight children in a financially stable home. Despite his comfort, the cultural norm in his community was clear—traveling to Europe was seen as a badge of honor.
Influenced by the stories of wealth and success from those who had migrated, Jeremiah decided to pursue the dream of a better life abroad.
After meeting an agent who promised him a seamless journey to Europe, Jeremiah secretly gathered funds and embarked on what he thought would be a life-changing adventure.
Instead, he encountered deceit at every turn, from extortion by traffickers to enduring days of starvation in the desert.
In Libya, he was sold to traffickers who subjected him and others to brutal conditions, forcing them to call their families for ransom.
Despite the trauma, Jeremiah’s family managed to secure his release. However, the journey didn’t end there.
A failed attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea left Jeremiah and his group stranded, with 37 fellow travelers drowning in the tragedy.
Disillusioned and scarred, Jeremiah decided to return to Nigeria with the help of migration organizations. His survival became a turning point.
Determined to prevent others from falling into the same trap, he founded the Voice of Migrants organization, where he shares his story to raise awareness about the dangers of irregular migration.
“Ignorance led me into a nightmare,” Jeremiah reflects. “I now dedicate my life to educating young people and their families about safer alternatives. No one should risk their lives on these deadly routes.”
Through his advocacy, Jeremiah calls on governments and security officials to dismantle trafficking networks while urging individuals to pursue legal migration routes or build opportunities at home.
His story stands as both a warning and a beacon of hope for those considering perilous journeys abroad.
