At least 155 Nigerians on Thursday arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, from Libya after failed attempt to transit the war-torn North African country to Europe for greener pastures.
The returnees, mainly in their 20s and 30s, were picked and released from various prisons and detention camps in Libya courtesy of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
A total of 342 Nigerians were deported from Libya between last month and March 7, while 161 persons voluntarily returned to the country with the support of IOM on February 14.
Thursdayโs exercise was the fourth this year and ninth of such in the last 15 months.
A total of 1,521 persons have been repatriated from the North African nation during the period.
Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr. Bandele Onimode, said among the returnees were three medical cases.
โOne of the returnees had paralysis, the other psychiatric case, while the last was a minor ailment. All were being catered for by a team of IOM and Port Authorityโs doctors shortly after arrival,โ he said.
The NEMA official said the returnees voluntarily chose to return home after they were rescued from harsh and inhuman conditions in Libya.
