FG repatriates 158 Nigerian migrants from Libya

The Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, in collaboration with Libyan authorities and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), have repatriated 158 Nigerian irregular migrants from Libya.

The repatriation was done under the IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program

Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

He said that the group of evacuees comprised 77 males, 45 females, 26 children as well as 10 infants.

The envoy explained that of the total number, 26 males were arrested from the ongoing raid of undocumented foreigners in Libya were released from Abu-Salim Detention Centre in Tripoli.

According to him, so far, 1,776 stranded Nigerians were returned home

“This marks the 12th evacuation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year. The current exercise follows the repatriation of 142 irregular Nigerian migrants from Sabha, Libya, on July 19,” he said.

“While some of them were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the Libyan Coastal Guards, others were arrested on charges of prostitution, illegal entry, overstay, and lack of proper documentation while others willingly submitted themselves to the IOM in Libya for repatriation.

“Nigerians living in Libya, from many indications, already have damaged reputations due to the alleged nefarious activities of some criminal elements among them

“Some have been fingered in the commitment of crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, drug peddling, prostitution, sale of alcohol as well as cultism and human trafficking with their Libyan collaborators, among others.

“It is, therefore, as a result of the above that, arrest and deportation of Nigerians may continue in the weeks and months ahead,” he added.

The envoy urged Nigerians to shun irregular migrations saying that there have been increasing and coordinated raids of illegal migrants across the cities of Libya.

According to him, these are likely going to continue as Libyan authorities consider influx of illegal migrants in the country a national security issue and have vowed to employ all legal means to stop the menace.

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