AGS NEWS – The Federal Government has repatriated 158 irregular Nigerian migrants from Libya, according to Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires to Libya, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed.

He stated that the group included 77 males, 45 females, 26 children, and 10 infants.

Mohammed explained that of the total number, 26 males were released from Abu-Salim Detention Centre in Tripoli, following their arrest during a raid on undocumented foreigners in Libya.

So far, 1,776 stranded Nigerians have been returned home this year.

The repatriation was a collaborative effort between the Nigerian mission and Libyan authorities, under the International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM) Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program.

This marks the 12th evacuation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year, following the repatriation of 142 irregular Nigerian migrants from Sabha, Libya, on July 19.

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Some of the evacuees were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the Libyan Coastal Guards, while others were arrested on charges of prostitution, illegal entry, overstay, and lack of proper documentation. Others voluntarily submitted themselves to the IOM for repatriation.

Mohammed noted that Nigerians in Libya have gained a damaged reputation due to the alleged criminal activities of some individuals among them, including kidnapping, drug peddling, prostitution, sale of alcohol, cultism, and human trafficking. As a result, arrests and deportations of Nigerians may continue.

The envoy urged Nigerians to avoid irregular migrations, warning that Libya has intensified and coordinated raids on illegal migrants, which are likely to continue as the Libyan authorities view the influx of illegal migrants as a national security issue.