New batch of 136 Nigerians returns from Libya

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 136 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

Idris Muhammed, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, confirmed the development to journalists on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 11.50 p.m on Monday aboard a chartered Al Buraq Air aircraft with registration number DMG-MJI.

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According to him, they were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and European Union under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme.

He said: “The returnees are made up of 59 adult females, four female children and five female infants.

“Also, there are 63 adult males, two male children and three infant males.”

Mr Muhammed said the returnees were welcomed by NEMA and other agencies, including the National Refugees Commission, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons as well the Nigeria Immigration Service.

One of the returnees, Kehinde Fatukasi, from Ekiti State, while narrating his experience said he deeply regretted embarking on the journey to the volatile North African country.

The 42-year-old man said he left Nigeria in 2016 accompanied by his wife and six-year-old son.

Mr Fatakusi said upon getting to Libya, the family was kidnapped and sold into slavery but fortunately, his wife managed to escape.