Libya Government Apprehends, Deports Over 300 Nigerians

Libya Allegedly Sends More Than 320 undocumented immigrants to Nigeria

Approximately 320 illegal Nigerians were brought back to their country on Tuesday, January 30, thanks to arrangements made by the Libyan government's anti-illegal immigration body and the International Organization for Migration (10M).

War-torn As more people risk hazardous sea voyages in an attempt to reach Europe, Libya has emerged as a major departure point for migrants on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, the majority of whom are from other parts of Africa.

A Tripoli-based anti-immigration body was established last year by Libya's rival administrations with the goal of organizing the deportation of foreign nationals who are in the nation illegally. “We executed the removal of 163 undocumented migrants with Nigerian citizenship from the Mitiga airport on Tuesday, comprising 107 females, 51 males, and five juveniles,” stated Mohamad Baredaa, the head of security for the migration agency.

Baredaa further stated that “160 Nigerians will be sent back to their country from Benina airport in Benghazi” later on Tuesday, in a move organized with the International Organization for Migration (10M).

The first group arrived at Tripoli's Mitiga airport on Tuesday, according to AFP, and was given a laissez-passer before boarding shuttles to the aircraft. The 10M estimates that there are over 700,000 migrants in Libya.

Human traffickers have found easy access to the country due to the more than ten years of violence and instability that have followed the overthrow and death of dictator Muammar Qadhafi in an uprising supported by NATO in 2011. Traffickers and smugglers have long been charged with violations

The UN-affiliated organization launched a "voluntary humanitarian return" program in 2015, coordinating and providing funding for migrants and asylum seekers in Libya who want to return to their home countries. 10,M figures show that 9,370 people left the program last year, compared to 11,200 in 2022.

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