The Federal Government has successfully repatriated 158 Nigerian migrants from Libya, marking another chapter in the ongoing efforts to bring stranded citizens home. Nigeria’s Charge’ d’ Affaires to Libya, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, confirmed this development in a statement released on Wednesday.
The group, consisting of 77 males, 45 females, 26 children, and 10 infants, faced a challenging ordeal in Libya. Among them, 26 males had been detained at the Abu-Salim Detention Centre in Tripoli amid a crackdown on undocumented foreigners.
Ambassador Mohammed highlighted the collaborative effort between the Nigerian mission and Libyan authorities, facilitated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under its Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program. He noted, “This marks the 12th evacuation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year.”
Just last week, on July 19, 142 irregular Nigerian migrants were repatriated from Sabha, Libya. The repatriation process is a mix of rescue missions and voluntary returns. Some Nigerians were saved from the Mediterranean Sea by the Libyan Coastal Guards, while others were detained on charges such as prostitution, illegal entry, and overstaying their visas. There are also those who voluntarily sought assistance from the IOM for their return.
The situation for Nigerians in Libya is precarious, with many facing allegations of involvement in serious crimes like kidnapping, drug trafficking, and prostitution. These activities have tainted the reputation of the Nigerian community in Libya, leading to increased scrutiny and arrests by Libyan authorities.
Ambassador Mohammed warned that the crackdown on illegal migrants is expected to intensify. “There have been increasing and coordinated raids of illegal migrants across the cities of Libya. These are likely going to continue as Libyan authorities consider the influx of illegal migrants a national security issue and have vowed to employ all legal means to stop the menace.”
He urged Nigerians to avoid irregular migration, stressing the dangers and the potential for continued arrests and deportations. With over 1,776 stranded Nigerians repatriated so far, the Federal Government’s efforts to manage the crisis continue, aiming to bring all citizens home safely.
