Nigerian govt, IOM repatriate 21 irregular Nigerian migrants from Libya detention

July 20, 2023

By Lizzy Okoji

Abuja, Nigeria- The Nigerian government in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have repatriated twenty-one Nigerian irregular migrants who were held in Libyan detention facility.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya in a statement on Monday stated that the evacuees who left Libya on Monday are expected to arrive Nigeria on Tuesday, June 20.

According to Musa, the stranded Nigerians are being evacuated to Nigeria under the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) exercise.

Musa said that the exercise is part of the Nigerian Government’s commitment to ensure that none of its citizens is left stranded in Libya, irrespective of their migration status.

He said that the evacuees who would be evacuated via commercial flights; Egypt and Ethiopian Airlines are expected to arrive the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on June 20.

“The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with Embassy of Nigeria Tripoli has repatriated twenty-one 21 stranded Nigerians.

“Through the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) today, 19th June 2023 from the Benghazi International Airport comma Libya, aboard commercial Egyptian Airline no. S830 from Benghazi to Cairo.

“Commercial Ethiopian Airlines will airlift the returnees from Cairo to Addis Ababa and from Addis Ababa to Lagos, Nigeria with flight nos. ET453 and ET901 respectively.

“The Egyptian airline is expected to depart Benghazi on the 19th June 2023 at 11:10 p.m on transit comma to Addis Ababa, and the Ethiopian airline will leave Addis Ababa on the 20th June 2023 comma at 09.00 a.m local time.

“The flight is expected to arrive Lagos at 12:25 p.m local time.

“This is the seventh voluntary evacuation exercise we would be conducting this year, with about five thousand stranded Nigerians repatriated under the VHR.

“We are working closely with the Libyan authority and we appreciate their support,” Musa said.

Thousands of Nigerian irregular migrants are locked up in detention centers across Libya for migration offences.

The Humanitarian Post