In a statement released on Wednesday, Ambassador Mohammed revealed that the repatriation was a collaborative effort between the Nigerian Mission, Libyan authorities, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program.
The repatriated individuals, which included seventy-seven males, forty-five females, twenty-six children, and ten infants, departed from Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, on chartered flight UZ 189 at 15:00 local time and arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 18:00.
The Nigerian Embassy cited several reasons for the repatriation, including a lack of proper documentation and accusations of various criminal activities. Among the repatriated, twenty-six males were released from the Abu-Salim Detention Centre in Tripoli as part of ongoing raids on undocumented foreigners in Libya.
Upon arrival in Nigeria, the evacuees were received by relevant government agencies, including NAPTIP, the Nigerian Immigration Service, Airport Security, and the NDLEA. They are expected to undergo rehabilitation and reintegration processes before being released into society.
Ambassador Mohammed highlighted that nearly 1,776 stranded Nigerians have been safely repatriated in 2024. He commended the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Libyan authorities, and the IOM for assisting evacuees who urgently wanted to return home but lacked the means.
“This marks the twelfth evacuation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year,” Mohammed stated. He noted that the latest repatriation follows the return of 142 irregular Nigerian migrants from Sabha, Libya, on July 9.
Some of the repatriated individuals were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the Libyan Coastal Guards, while others were arrested for prostitution, illegal entry, overstaying, and lack of proper documentation. Some willingly submitted themselves to the IOM for repatriation.
The Nigerian Envoy acknowledged the increasing and coordinated raids on illegal migrants across Libyan cities, driven by national security concerns. He noted that Nigerians in Libya often face reputational damage due to the alleged criminal activities of some individuals, including kidnapping for ransom, drug peddling, prostitution, and human trafficking.
In response to these challenges, Libyan authorities hosted the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli on July 17, 2024, bringing together source, transit, and destination countries to discuss solutions to irregular migration.
The Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation program, run by the IOM, ensures safe, dignified, and expedited return for willing migrants. The Nigerian government’s collaboration with the IOM has facilitated the return of many irregular Nigerian migrants.
Ambassador Mohammed concluded by urging Nigerians to avoid irregular migration and emphasized the need for continued efforts to address the root causes of illegal migration.
