151 Nigerians evacuated from Libya

The Federal Government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have evacuated another batch of stranded Nigerians in Libya.

According to Ambassador Kabiru Musa, Charge D’affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, who issued a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, a total of 151 citizens were flown from Benghazi, as the government resumed its voluntary evacuation.

The evacuees, including 71 females, 54 males, 14 children and 13 infants, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, tonight.

In 2022, the IOM and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Mission in Libya, repatriated almost 4,000 Nigerians who were irregular migrants.

Musa said the March 28 evacuation was the first in 2023, adding that additional exercises will follow in the coming days and weeks.

“Under the IOM’s voluntary repatriation exercise, we successfully evacuated 151 stranded Nigerians from the city of Benghazi to Lagos, Nigeria at 16:00 hours local time aboard chartered flight no. UZ189.

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“The flight is expected to arrive the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at 20:00 hours Nigerian time the same day.

“There are several Nigerians living illegally in this country who have been subjected to very inhumane treatment, and the Federal Government, through the Mission here, has continued to intervene with local authorities to stop this.

“The voluntary repatriation offers an opportunity for those who want to return to Nigeria to do so safely and reunite with their families. There are always officials of relevant government agencies on ground to receive them and ensure their resettlement and reintegration back to society,” Mr Musa said.

​More Nigerians will be evacuated from Tripoli on Wednesday and while another batch has been scheduled for April 3 from Misrata.