TRIPOLI, Libya — The Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, in collaboration with Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has successfully repatriated 158 Nigerian irregular migrants from Libya.
According to a statement released by Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed on Wednesday, this operation was conducted under the IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program, July 24, 2024.
The group of evacuees included 77 males, 45 females, 26 children, and 10 infants.
Ambassador Mohammed noted that of the total number, 26 males were released from the Abu-Salim Detention Centre in Tripoli following their arrest during ongoing raids targeting undocumented foreigners in Libya.
“So far, 1,776 stranded Nigerians have been returned home,” the envoy said.
“This marks the 12th evacuation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year. The current exercise follows the repatriation of 142 irregular Nigerian migrants from Sabha, Libya, on July 19.”
The ambassador elaborated on the various circumstances under which these migrants found themselves in Libya, stating, “While some of them were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the Libyan Coastal Guards, others were arrested on charges of prostitution, illegal entry, overstay, and lack of proper documentation while others willingly submitted themselves to the IOM in Libya for repatriation.”
The ongoing efforts to repatriate Nigerians from Libya come amid increasing raids and arrests of illegal migrants across Libyan cities.
According to Mohammed, Nigerians in Libya have faced a tarnished reputation due to the activities of certain criminal elements among them.
He cited allegations of involvement in crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, drug peddling, prostitution, sale of alcohol, cultism, and human trafficking in collaboration with Libyan counterparts.
“Nigerians living in Libya, from many indications, already have damaged reputations due to the alleged nefarious activities of some criminal elements among them,” he said.
“It is, therefore, as a result of the above that arrest and deportation of Nigerians may continue in the weeks and months ahead.”
The ambassador urged Nigerians to avoid irregular migrations, highlighting the ongoing and coordinated raids by Libyan authorities, who view the influx of illegal migrants as a national security issue and have vowed to employ all legal means to address the problem.
As the situation develops, the Nigerian Mission in Libya continues to work closely with Libyan authorities and international organisations to ensure the safe repatriation of its citizens and to discourage future instances of irregular migration.
