(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
The Libyan unity government (GNA) along with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian embassy in Libya, have deported 220 Nigerians back to their country.
A chartered airplane took the deported Nigerians, who were gathered from various locations in Libya, to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Many had lived in Libya for years after they illegally entered the country with the intention of crossing over to Europe.
At the airport, the deportees will most likely be processed through immigration. Some of the deportees have criminal records in Libya and will most likely face prosecution by the anti-narcotics agency or the Nigeria Police.
In June, 162 Nigerians who were stuck in Libya volunteered to be taken back to Nigeria. Sara Hamo, the Integration Consultant with IOM said that 200 more Nigerians will also be deported in August.
Hamo said, “this is the second time in 2016 that we were returning Nigerians back to base. There are more Nigerians still coming may be in the next two months. We already have a request from the Nigerian embassy that some of their nationals wanted to return to their country. Those coming would be about 200.”