Libya has initiated the repatriation of irregular migrants, with 174 Nigerians returned on Tuesday, including 39 women and six children.
Jerrymusa.com reports that Mohammed Baredaa, head of the Libyan interior ministry’s anti-irregular migration agency, announced the operation, which marks the beginning of a series of planned returns in the coming weeks.
“The department has begun to repatriate 174 irregular migrants of Nigerian origin,” Baredaa said, noting that the operation would “continue over the coming weeks.”
More Migrants May Return
The migrants were returned with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM) voluntary humanitarian return program.
This effort aims to address the instability that has plagued Libya since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, creating an environment conducive to smuggling and trafficking.
“I have been in Libya for three years to work and earn money and move to Europe,” said Zakaria Abubaker Shueib, a 20-year-old Nigerian migrant set to be repatriated.
His story highlights the desperation and risks faced by many migrants attempting to reach Europe via perilous sea journeys.
According to a recent IOM report, migrant deaths and disappearances in the Middle East and North Africa rose to 4,984 in 2023, with Libya accounting for 683 recorded deaths, primarily in western Libya. The report underscores the urgent need for effective solutions to address the migration crisis.