Immigration Offences: FG repatriates 161 Nigerians detained in Libya

The federal government on Monday repatriated 161 Nigerians whose release was secured from detention facilities in Libya over various Immigration offences.

Kabiru Musa, charge d’Affaires en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

According to Musa, the government secured the release of the detained Nigerians to enable them return home to rebuild their lives.

Musa said the repatriated citizens were expected to arrive the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday night.

“As part of the federal government’s pledge to ensure none of its citizens is left stranded abroad, we have successfully evacuated another 161 Nigerians from Libya,” said the statement.

It explained that the Nigerian Mission in Libya with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Libyan authorities secured their release from detention centres across Libya.

“The 161 evacuees departed Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli aboard chattered flight No.UZ0189 on Monday evening and are expected to arrive the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos same Monday night,” added the statement. “They include 87 males, 68 females, five children and one infant.”

Almost 6,000 stranded Nigerians have been repatriated under the IOM/FG Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) exercise in 2023.