Libya Government Repatriates 172 Nigeria Migrants

 
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has helped 172 Nigeria migrants, including 6 women, to return home to Nigeria from Libya.

The repatriation done in close cooperation with Libyan authorities, Nigeria’s Embassy in Tripoli and the IOM office in Nigeria was on board a chartered flight departing Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport and arriving in Lagos this the morning. Before departure, IOM Libya staff provided the illegal immigrants clothes, shoes, underwear, and hygiene kits.

Most of the migrants were detained as they were trying to cross to Europe. Despite ending their journey of hope inside detention centres, the migrants say they still consider themselves lucky to have escaped death on the Mediterranean, which has taken the lives of over 97 migrants and refugees on the route linking Libya to Italy.

European Union and the Italian Ministry of Interior provided the funds for this charter, under the project called Prevention and Management of Irregular Migration Flows from the Sahara Desert to the Mediterranean Sea. The stories were similar in the light of the current unstable situation in Libya, which caused migrants many physical and psychological problems.

The repatriated Nigerians were received and screened by various agencies such as Nigeria Immigration Services, Police and the National Agency for Protection and trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.

Ekpedeme King, Public Relations Officer Nigeria Immigration Service, who confirmed the deportation said the Nigerians were returned home for overstaying their visas, among other immigration offences.

“What I can tell you is that some Nigerians were deported today for immigration offences. Most of those brought overstayed in Libya,” King in an interview. - See more at: http://www.aitonline.tv/post-libya_government_repatriates_172_nigeria_migrants#sthash.mXYqlDUb.dpuf