Envoy Decries Irregular Migration As Authorities Repatriate 158 Nigerians From Libya …Lauds The Collaborative Efforts Of Stakeholders.
By Caroline Ameh
A total of 158 Nigerian irregular migrants have been repatriated from Libya. This repatriation was coordinated by the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli in collaboration with Libyan authorities and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under its Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program.
The Charge’ d’ Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, Libya, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, disclosed in a release on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, that the evacuees departed Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli at 1500hrs local time aboard a chartered flight, UZ 189, and arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 1800hrs.
According to Ambassador Mohammed, the group included seventy-seven males, forty-five females, twenty-six children, and ten infants. The repatriation was necessitated by the lack of proper documentation and accusations of various criminal activities against the Nigerians.
From the total number, twenty-six males were released from the Abu-Salim Detention Centre in Tripoli during ongoing raids targeting undocumented foreigners in Libya.
Upon arrival in Nigeria, the evacuees were received by several government agencies, including NAPTIP, the Nigerian Immigration Service, Airport Security, and the NDLEA. They are expected to undergo rehabilitation and reintegration processes before rejoining society.
Ambassador Mohammed revealed that nearly 1,776 stranded Nigerians have been safely repatriated in 2024 so far. He praised the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Libyan authorities, and the IOM for assisting many Nigerians eager to return home but lacking the means.
“This marks the twelfth evacuation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year,” Ambassador Mohammed stated. The latest exercise follows the repatriation of 142 irregular Nigerian migrants from Sabha, Libya, on July 9.
He noted that while some migrants were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by Libyan Coastal Guards, others were arrested for prostitution, illegal entry, overstaying, and lacking proper documentation. Many voluntarily sought help from the IOM for repatriation.
Ambassador Mohammed emphasized that Libyan authorities have intensified raids on illegal migrants, viewing the influx as a national security threat. This has led to ongoing arrests and deportations, particularly given the involvement of some Nigerians in criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom, drug peddling, prostitution, alcohol sales, cultism, and human trafficking in collaboration with Libyan criminals.
He warned that arrests and deportations might continue in the coming weeks and months.
To address the challenges of illegal migration, the Libyan authorities hosted the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli on July 17, 2024. This forum brought together countries of origin, transit, and destination to discuss solutions to irregular migration.
The Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation program by the IOM ensures safe, dignified, and expedited return for willing migrants. The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its collaborations with the IOM, has facilitated the return of many irregular Nigerian migrants over time.
