At least 320 Nigerians stranded in Libya have been rescued, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) coordinating efforts to facilitate their return to Nigeria.
Migrants from various African countries often attempt to reach Europe through Libya, which has become a significant departure point.
Last year, Libya's rival administrations established a Tripoli-based anti-immigration body responsible for coordinating the deportation of foreigners in the country illegally.
“We carried out on Tuesday the expulsion of 163 irregular migrants of Nigerian nationality from the Mitiga airport, including 107 women, 51 men, and five children,” said Mohamad Baredaa, the head of security at Libya's migration agency. This move was coordinated with the IOM. Baredaa added that “160 Nigerians will be sent back to their country from Benina airport in Benghazi” later on Tuesday, January 30.
An AFP correspondent witnessed the first group at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport early Tuesday, where they were given a laissez-passer before boarding shuttles to the plane.
According to the IOM, there are more than 700,000 migrants in Libya.
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