The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully repatriated 158 irregular migrants from Libya. The group, which arrived on July 24, 2024, included 77 men, 45 women, 26 children, and 10 infants.
Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires to Libya, confirmed the repatriation in a statement. He noted that among the evacuees, 26 men had been detained in Libya's Abu-Salim Detention Centre before their release as part of this operation.
This repatriation is part of an ongoing effort, with a total of 1,776 stranded Nigerians having been brought back so far this year. The evacuation was coordinated by the Nigerian Mission in Libya in partnership with Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under its Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program.
The current evacuation follows a previous one on July 19, which saw 142 Nigerian migrants returned from Sabha. Some of those repatriated had been rescued from the Mediterranean Sea, while others faced legal issues such as illegal entry, overstaying, and lack of documentation. A few had willingly sought repatriation through the IOM.
Ambassador Mohammed highlighted that Nigerian migrants in Libya have faced negative reputations due to alleged involvement in criminal activities such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, and prostitution. As a result, arrest and deportation of Nigerians are expected to continue.
He urged Nigerians to avoid irregular migration, noting that Libyan authorities are intensifying efforts to combat illegal migration, considering it a significant national security issue.
No comments:
Post a Comment