FG, IOM repatriate 102 more Nigerians stranded in Libya

At least, 102 Nigerians who were released from detention facilities in Libya, have been repatriated. 

Kabiru Musa, chargé d’affaires en titre of the Nigerian mission in Libya, who announced the development in a statement, said the repatriation was facilitated by the federal government with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

“With the support of the IOM and the Libyan authorities, we have successfully evacuated another batch of stranded Nigerians in Libya after we facilitated their release from detention centres in Libya,” the statement reads.

“Among the evacuees are 94 female adults, four male children, and four female children.

“They are being evacuated under the voluntary humanitarian repatriation (VHR) programme. The exercise further demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian is left stranded abroad.”

Musa advised the returnees to desist from irregular migration which involves travelling to a foreign country without valid travel documents or visa.

“It is risky and makes them susceptible to abuses,” he added.

He said the evacuees were also enlightened on the deception of human traffickers who use fake promises to lure them into modern-day slavery and sexual exploitation.

“I have also admonished them to become vanguards for the fight against trafficking in persons which is a crime against humanity and a dent to the good image of Nigeria when they return home,” Musa added.

“The federal government is committed to the safe, orderly return of irregular migrants so as not to leave them to suffer deprivation while in detention. We have to work together with relevant authorities to end the menace of human trafficking and irregular migration.”

Musa said the pledges made by the returnees on adhering to legal pathways for migration proved their commitment to change.

Almost 5,000 stranded Nigerians in Libya have been successfully repatriated by the federal government in collaboration with the IOM under the VHR, from 2021 to date with over 800 evacuated in eight exercises in 2023 alone. 

The latest exercise comes barely 24 hours after 21 other Nigerian illegal migrants were repatriated by the IOM and the Nigerian mission in Libya.

On April 12, the federal government announced that 152 stranded Nigerians were rescued from Libya.