The New Jeswang community is mourning the loss of Ebrima Sillah, who died recently when their boat sank off the Libyan Coast.

He was on his way to enter the Italian island of Lampedusa illegally. Ebrima was a well-known young man, who was selling second hand items in Westfield.

A grieving relative told What’s On-Gambia: “Ebrima attended Imam Malick School in Pipeline. After completing school, he was working with at his father’s shop near Sunukerr, Westfield. I don’t know what made him to take the back way to Italy.”

According to a neighbor, Ebrima’s trip to Libya was funded by his brothers in Europe. His parents were also aware that he was about to embark on a perilous journey.

“He left almost a month ago to enter Europe and join his brothers,” said the neighbor.

His body is yet to be found, with Libyan authorities washing their hand of the search.

Recently, the government in Tripoli has appealed to the European Union to help them control the flood of migrants through its territory.

Ebrima was not the only young Gambian, who recently lost his life between Libya and Italy. A promising football player in Serre Kunda East, Lamin Fadera also died when their boat capsized.

A large number of young Gambians are still in Libya looking for an opportunity to enter Italy. Some of them, who are held in government-run detention centres are frequently tortured and abused by their guards.