The International Organization for Migration, in collaboration with the Federal Government, has deported 155 Nigerian irregular migrants stranded across various parts of Libya.
The Charge D’Affaires in charge of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, Kabiru Musa disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Musa, the evacuation, which has become a continuous and regular exercise under the IOM’s voluntary repatriation exercise, seeks to ensure the safe return of stranded Nigerian migrants back home.
The returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, late Tuesday evening on board an Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG.
“With the support of the IOM, today, we carried out another repatriation of another 155 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya, which includes 14 males, 110 females, 23 children and eight infants.
“The Nigerian Mission in Libya, with support from the IOM, again secured the release of 139 irregular Nigerian Migrants who were in detention centres in Libya and have facilitated their return home.
“Upon arrival, they would be received by relevant authorities who will ensure their reintegration into the society,” Mr Musa said.
He also appreciated the Libyan authorities’ support, especially in facilitating the release of irregular migrants in Libyan detention centres.
The IOM said that officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, Port Health Service, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria were at the airport to receive the returnees.
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