The funeral of the 26 Nigerian female migrants who died at the Mediterranean sea held on Friday in Naples, Italy.
Italian prosecutors say they are investigating the deaths of women – most of them teenagers – whose bodies were recovered at sea on November 6.
Investigators suspect that the women, aged 14 to 18 years, were sexually abused and subsequently murdered while trying to cross the Mediterranean.
Paraic O’Brien, a reporter with Channel4 television, London, tweeted pictures of the funeral on Friday.
According to him, two of the 26 women were pregnant at the time they were allegedly killed.
Good morning. I’m in Salerno (south of Naples) to cover the funerals of the 26 Nigerian women (mainly teenagers) who drowned crossing Med on the 3rd Nov. pic.twitter.com/SEXvyjRJ3f
— Paraic O’Brien (@paraicobrien) November 17, 2017
The 2 coffins with the blue flowers are for 2 of the 26 women who were pregnant pic.twitter.com/6JbAKXW6fH
— Paraic O’Brien (@paraicobrien) November 17, 2017
One of the cemetery workers carefully writes the ref. no. for one of the 26 Nigerian women drowned in the Med on the wet cement of her new grave in Salerno pic.twitter.com/OotnJWrO76
— Paraic O’Brien (@paraicobrien) November 17, 2017
For those asking whether there was a representative from the Nigerian embassy at today’s funeral. I’m trying to find out for you. Will post as soon as I know.
— Paraic O’Brien (@paraicobrien) November 17, 2017
Investigation into the death of the women has already led to the detention of five migrants who are being questioned in the southern port of Salerno.