The government of Niger Republic has repatriated about 99 Nigerians who arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), on Monday afternoon.
THISDAY gathered that the returnees who landed at Nigeria’s busiest airport arrived at 1415 hours (about 2:15 pm) and were assisted back to the country in a voluntary capacity by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
According to the South-West Zonal Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, the chartered flight was operated by Boeing 737-500, Sky Mali airline with registration number TZ-SMA.
Farinloye said the returnees had 15 adult females, including two with medical cases and 76 adult males, seven female children, 15 male children, one female and infants respectively aboard the aircraft.
Among the agencies that carried out reception for the returnees at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport upon arrival, were the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
However, there was no indication that the repatriation of the Nigerians was due to diplomatic impasse between Nigeria and Niger Republic, which brewed after the military coup in the nation’s neighbouring country in July 2023.
According to Nigeria Immigration Service, Niger Republic has one of the highest illegal immigrants in Nigeria.
Chinedu Eze
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