By Enyichukwu Enemanna
An agency of the United Nations – the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have repatriated a total of 180 Nigerians stranded in Libya.
“The IOM continues to play a crucial role in assisting Nigerians stranded abroad, and this latest evacuation underscores the organisation’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of migrants,” the NEMA said in a statement.
NEMA said the group arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 7:30 pm on Wednesday, aboard a chartered flight operated by Al-Buraq Airlines.
The returnees included 67 adult females, 55 adult males, 24 female children, 18 male children, and 16 infants.
NEMA said upon arrival, the Nigerian Immigration Service conducted a biometric profiling of the returnees to ensure proper documentation and support.
In addition to this, various government agencies provided humanitarian assistance to the returnees to aid their reintegration into society.
Libya has been in a civil war since 2011 following the Arab Spring uprising, with full-scale armed clashes between supporters of former leader Muammar Gaddafi and opposing armed groups.
This has resulted in political instability, protracted violence, the emergence of various armed groups looking to control Libya, critical infrastructure damage, and disruptions to oil production.
The October 2020 ceasefire agreement has allowed for more security and the return of many displaced people.
Delays in the parliamentary and presidential elections originally scheduled for 24 December 2021 continue to risk a re-escalation of armed clashes between political groups supporting rival governments.
