Over 320 stranded Nigerians in Libya have been successfully rescued, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in facilitating their return to Nigeria.
Libya, torn by war, has become a prominent departure point for migrants, predominantly from other African regions, embarking on perilous sea journeys in pursuit of reaching Europe.
According to AFP reports, last year, Libya’s rival administrations agreed to establish an anti-immigration body based in Tripoli to oversee the deportation of foreigners residing illegally in the country.
The head of security for Libya’s migration agency, Mohamad Baredaa, disclosed that 163 irregular migrants of Nigerian nationality, comprising 107 women, 51 men, and five children, were expelled from Mitiga airport. Additionally, another 160 Nigerians were scheduled for repatriation from Benina airport in Benghazi, in a collaborative effort with the IOM.
Witnesses at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport on Tuesday observed the first group receiving laissez-passer documents before boarding shuttles to the aircraft.
The IOM estimates that there are more than 700,000 migrants currently in Libya. As foreign nations like the United Kingdom tighten immigration policies, a significant number of Nigerians are still keen on leaving their home country, driven by the “Japa” trend and exacerbated economic conditions amidst naira devaluation.
