Another set of 154 Nigerians were deported from Libya on Monday barely one and half months after 241 arrived from the same North African country.
The deportees arrived the cargo terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at around 5:00 pm on an Airbus A330-200 with registration number 5A-LAT.
On hand to receive them were officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Police, Air Force Command and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) who facilitated their return to Nigeria.
The returnees comprised of 96 females and 58 males. Among the 96 females were nine pregnant women, three minors and three others with serious medical issues.
It was further gathered that the returnees attempted to cross to Europe in search of greener pastures but failed in their mission and became stranded in Libya for weeks before the intervention of IOM.
An IOM Medical Doctor, Abusrewi Zakariya, was also on board to provide first aid to the sick ones among the returnees.
Head of IOM in Lagos, Nahashon Maina Thuo, disclosed that Moday’s exercise was the fourth time in 2016 that the organization would assist Nigerians who volunteered to return home after they were stranded in Libya. He said similar support was provided to Senegal and other African countries.
He said another set of Nigerian migrants would be assisted to return home before the end of the year as their profiles are being sorted.
NEMA’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Salisu Mohammed (rtd), said the agency would assist the returnees to get to their destinations.
He, however, advised those seeking greener pastures abroad to have a rethink, adding that they can actually make it here in Nigeria.
He called on parents to warn their children against leaving the country illegally in search of greener pastures, pointing out that a lot of people died in the process of crossing the Mediterranean sea to Europe.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/nine-pregnant-women-3-minors-142-others-return-from-libya/166073.html#VWeru1ZrTcb1Fi7f.99
