A total of 148 stranded Nigerian migrants, including women and children, have been repatriated from Libya with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Libyan Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), and the Nigerian consulate.
The migrants were flown from Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli to Lagos on Wednesday through the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme. The group consisted of 13 men, 124 women, and 8 children.
Authorities confirmed that the return operation was part of ongoing efforts to assist migrants stranded in Libya. Many of them had attempted to use the country as a transit route to Europe but became victims of harsh conditions and exploitation.
Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced on social media that its officials received the returnees at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at exactly 17:35 local time.
The agency said the migrants arrived aboard a Boeing chartered flight with registration number 5A-BAA. Upon arrival, they underwent mandatory profiling and biometric registration before being transferred for reintegration programmes led by IOM.
Over the years, thousands of African migrants have been stranded in Libya due to failed attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Many face detention, forced labour, and abuse in the process.
International agencies continue to facilitate voluntary repatriation efforts to help migrants return to their home countries safely. The latest operation highlights ongoing humanitarian efforts to address the challenges faced by migrants in Libya.
