A Gambian migrant, identified as Baboucarr Jeng, has been reported killed in Libya over the weekend. Jeng, a native of Jamale Babou, was alleged to have been shot and killed by the Libyan police.

According to reports Jeng was returning home on Friday after a trip to the shop when he was stopped by Libyan police officers. It was alleged that Jeng tried to evade arrest and was shot in the head. He was rushed to hospital but died of his wounds.

Baboucarr Secka, a relative resident in Spain told the Freedom Newspaper that the Libyan authorities were refusing to hand over the remains of Jeng for burial.

“We are appealing to The Gambian government to help recover and repatriate Baboucarr Jeng’s remains from Libya to The Gambia. As we speak, they are refusing to hand over Jeng’s remains. We are calling on The Gambian government to intervene so that Baboucarr Jeng can be accorded a decent burial in The Gambia.”

Libya, a war ravaged country, is a gateway for African migrants seeking to illegally enter Europe and thousands of them have died while making this perilous journey.

Migrants often spend months in Libya held captive in squalid compounds or trying to earn enough money for their passage. There have been reports were migrants have suffered knife and gunshot wounds at the hands of Libyan militia or ruthless gangs of traffickers.