155 Nigerians deported from Libya arrive Lagos Airport (Photos)

155 Nigerians were Thursday assisted by International Organisation for Migration,IOM, to
return to Nigeria from Libya. The deportees arrived Murtala Muhammed International Airport
(MMIA), Lagos ,aboard a chartered flight from Libya after they were unable to cross the war-torn north African country to Europe for greener
pastures.

African migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by
the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017.

The returnees, mainly in their 20s and 30s, according to National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, were picked up from various
prisons and detention camps in Libya by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Among the returnees were three medical cases. One of the returnees had paralysis, the other psychiatric case, while the last was a minor
ailment. All were being catered for by a team of IOM and Port Authority’s doctors shortly after
arrival.

It will be recalled that a total of 171 were deported from Libya on March 7; another 171 on February 21, while 161 voluntarily returned with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on February 14 this year.

Yesterday’s exercise was the fourth this year and ninth of such returns in the last 15 months in which 1521 persons have been repatriated.

Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr. Bandele Onimode, said that the returnees all
voluntarily agreed to return to Nigeria after they were rescued from harsh and inhuman conditions in Libya.

He added that it was NEMA’s duty to receive them on behalf of the Federal Government, and connect the returnees with various state
government for proper integration.

Public Information Officer of IOM, Julia Burpee, said theirs were cases of people stranded in Libya and unable to proceed as economic
migrants to Europe.

Burpee said that till date over 7000 Nigerians have been repatriated since 2001.