144 Stranded Nigerians Return from Libya as NEMA, IOM Lead Rescue Operation in Lagos

 

In a coordinated international humanitarian effort, 144 stranded Nigerians have been successfully repatriated from Libya and received in Lagos by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), alongside several other critical agencies.

The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Cargo Terminal, Ikeja, on April 8, 2025, via an Al Buraq chartered Boeing aircraft with registration number 5ADMG. The flight, facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), brought back a diverse group including 89 men, 35 women, 17 children, and three infants, all of whom had faced difficult conditions in Libya.

According to NEMA’s Lagos Operations Office, the repatriation was part of the ongoing voluntary humanitarian return program, organized in collaboration with IOM and supported by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Nigeria Immigration Service, Department of State Services (DSS), Port Health Services, and the Nigeria Police Force.

Once landed, the returnees underwent medical screening, profiling, and biometric verification before being relocated to the Igando IDPs Resettlement Center, where they will begin the reintegration process. The agencies involved are expected to offer counseling, skills training, and basic support to help these individuals reintegrate into society.

This operation is part of a larger effort to provide safe return options for Nigerians trapped in difficult circumstances abroad, particularly in countries like Libya where many migrants often face harsh living conditions or exploitation.

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