>
Autopsies on the bodies of 26 Nigerian women and girls found dead in the Mediterranean in early this month has been confirmed that they drowned at sea, Italian news agencies report.
According to the autopsy report carried out in Salerno, Italy, two of the 26 women were pregnant. Twenty-five of them died from asphyxiation in the water, while one girl suffered a wound to her liver.
The autopsies found no trace of physical or sexual violence on the bodies.
The death of the Nigerian girls believed to be between the ages of 14-18 has been considered “a monumental loss and a sad moment for the country.”
Some victims have been identified by family members who survived the tragedy. Others were identified by contacting relatives whose phone numbers were discovered in the victim’s clothing.
The girls will be buried today in Salerno where a day of mourning has been declared.