Nigerians stuck in Libya return singing ‘I’ll never forget my home’

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.

More than 150 Nigerians, some of them in tears, broke out in song as they touched down on home soil, after months stuck in Libya waiting to try to get to Europe.

“I don’t leave Nigeria again-o! I will never forget my home!” they sang.

The rain fell heavily on the runway at Lagos international airport and night was drawing in but the atmosphere on the small bus taking the new
arrivals to immigration control was almost hysterical.

They broke out in loud applause, waving at onlookers curious to see who had emerged from the chartered jet that had flown in from the Libyan
capital.

“I’m so happy, it’s like winning the lottery,” said Osapolor Osahor.

The 24-year-old tailor said life was hellish in Tripoli: the sound of gunfire was everywhere and there was a mounting toll of deaths, particularly of black Africans.

“Some are in prison for so long, six months, seven months… I was put in a cell, like four, five months before I came back,” he told AFP.

Increasing numbers

Four plane-loads of Nigerian migrants have now flown back from Libya in less than two months.

Since the start of the year, 660 people in total have been helped to return voluntarily.

That compares with 867 for the whole of last year, according to the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), which is running the repatriation scheme.

Most of the Nigerians are economic migrants who want to try their luck in Europe and travelled up to the Mediterranean coast via northern neighbour Niger and the treacherous route through the Sahara desert.

But with Libya in turmoil, many found themselves trapped by violence while others were arrested and held by militia even before they had tried to make the sea crossing.

Ozoa, a mechanic, was among the 155 people who arrived back in Nigeria on Thursday. Lying on a
stretcher, he didn’t sing or smile.

Last year he managed to get to the port of Zawiya one of the main departure points for migrants some 45 kilometres (30 miles) west of Tripoli.

The 30-year-old had a blank look and refused to speak to reporters. He knows he won’t walk again.