158 Nigerian Irregular Migrants to Libya Repatriated, Envoy Reveals

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A total of 158 Nigerian irregular migrants have once more been repatriated from Libya, the Charge’ d’ Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, Libya, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed has revealed

The envoy, in a statement made available to journalists yesterday, disclosed that the repatriation exercise was carried out by the Mission in collaboration with the Libyan authorities and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the organisation’s Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR).

The statement further noted that the evacuees departed Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, aboard chartered flight no: – UZ 189 at 1500hrs local time and arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 1800hrs.

According to Mohammed, the group of evacuees was made up of 77 males, 45 females, 26 children as well as 10 infants.

On the reasons for the latest repatriation of the Nigerians, the Nigerian Embassy said they were deported for lack of proper documentation and accusations of various criminal activities, among others.

Of the total number, the Embassy said 26 males arrested from the ongoing raid of undocumented foreigners in Libya were released from Abu-Salim Detention Centre in Tripoli.

The Mission also disclosed that upon arrival in Nigeria, the evacuees were received by relevant government agencies, including NAPTIP, Nigerian Immigration Service, Airport Security and the NDLEA.

The evacuees were expected to undergo rehabilitation and reintegration processes before they are released into society.

According to Mohammed, nearly 1, 776 stranded Nigerians have safely been returned home in 2024 so far.

The Nigerian Envoy, while urging citizens to shun irregular migrations, lauded the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Libyan authorities and the IOM for coming through for so many of the evacuees, who had the urgent desire to return home, but did not have the means to do so.

He explained: “This marks the twelfth evacuation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year.  

“The current exercise follows the repatriation of 142 irregular Nigerian migrants from Sabha, Libya, on 9th July.

“While some of them were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the Libyan Coastal Guards, others were arrested on charges of prostitution, illegally entering the country, over stay and lack of proper documentation, just as others willingly submitted themselves to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Libya for repatriation.

“You know, lately, there have been increasing and coordinated raids of illegal migrants across the cities of Libya and these are likely going to continue as Libyan authorities consider influx of illegal migrants in the country a National Security issue and have vowed to employ all legal means to stop the menace.

“Nigerians living in Libya, from many indications, already have damaged reputations due to the alleged nefarious activities of some criminal elements among them. Some have been fingered in the commitment of crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, drug peddling, prostitution, sale of alcohol as well as cultism and human trafficking with their Libyan collaborators, among others.

“It is therefore as a result of the above that, arrest and deportation of Nigerians may continue in the weeks and months ahead.”

Worried by the challenges of illegal migration, the Libyan authorities recently, on July 17,2024, hosted the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli which brought together source, transit and destination countries to discuss solutions to irregular migration.

The Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation is a programme of the International Organisation for Migration that guarantees safe, dignified and expedited return for willing migrants.

The federal government has through its constant collaborations with this organisation ensured that many irregular Nigerian migrants return home from time to time.