The Migrant Rescue Watch has announced the repatriation of 162 Nigerians from Libya, as part of ongoing efforts to assist stranded migrants return home safely.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group disclosed that the Libyan Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), coordinated the voluntary return through Misrata International Airport.
“DCIM with IOM support repatriated 162 migrants, including women and children of Nigerian nationality, via Misrata International Airport,” the organisation confirmed.
Many of the returnees were victims of human trafficking, forced labour, or had been left stranded after failed attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.
The Nigerian government, working with international partners, has in recent years facilitated the return of thousands of citizens from Libya and other North African countries, where migrants often face harsh conditions.