Another Batch Of 158 Stranded Nigerians Returns From Libya

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 158 stranded Nigerians from Libya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Returnees who were voluntarily assisted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) arrived at the airport at about 5.47 pm on Wednesday aboard Al Buraq Airline Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG from Libya.

NEMA South-West Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, who disclosed this in a statement, said the returnees were received at the Cargo Wing of the Airport who had to pass through screening with Nigeria Immigration Services.

According to him, the returnees include 86 female adults, six female children and 13 female infants, 42 male adults, two of whom had medical cases, three male children and 21 male infants.

The statement read in part, “NEMA has just received a batch of 158 stranded Nigerians who are voluntarily assisted back to the country. The returnees who were assisted back to Nigeria by International Organisation for Migration arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 1747 aboard Al Buraq Airline Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG.

“The returnees were received at the cargo wing of the airport who had to pass through screening with Nigeria Immigration Services. The breakdown of the returnees indicates that there were 86 female adults, 6 female children and 13 female infants as well as 42 male adults with 2 medical cases, 3 female children and 21 male infants.

“The returnees would be kept for seven in a transit for isolation period during which training and other medical processes would be conducted for the returnees.

“The IOM has been assisting several Nigerians back to the country since 2012 in a special programme sponsored by the European Union for young Nigerians who had intended travelling out of the country in search of greener pastures but got stranded in Libya.

“About 19,000 Nigerians have been brought back till date.”

National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria Immigration Services, FAAN, Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health and other agencies were on ground during the reception activities for the Returnees on arrival.

This comes a few months after a video emerged showing many Nigerians living in Libya being arrested by government officials who raided their various houses and dumped them in prisons.