An additional batch of 175 Nigerians willingly came home from Libya on Tuesday via a Nouvelair aircraft with registration number TS-INA.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the aircraft arrived at 7:50PM at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The Nigerians who returned were comprised of 34 males, 122 females, 10 children and 9 infants.
The returnees were escorted back by the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya.
They were welcomed at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and the Police.
Also present at the time of their arrival were officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
Air Commodore Paul Ohemu, Director, Search and Rescue, NEMA, said that the agency is working together with IOM to stop improper migration and return abandoned Nigerians from Libya.
Mr. Ohemu encouraged Nigerians to stay back and provide their quota to the socio-economic progress of the country.
“There are a lot of things you can do in Nigeria here.”
“You don’t have to travel outside the country in search of greener pastures.”
“My advice to parents is to keep tab on their children and to ensure that they know where their children are going and not to be deceived by phantom promises,” he said.
He added that NEMA and some state governments had put different schemes in place to help redevelop the returnees into the society.
Joseph Famakinwa, Zonal Director, NAPTIP, Lagos Zone, said that the federal government had increased endeavors to suppress human trafficking and bring traffickers to book.
“NAPTIP has sent 315 Nigerians to prison human trafficking with a total conviction of 265.”
“Our advice to parents is that they should not allow their children to fall into the hands of traffickers,” he advised.
Julia Burpee, Public Information Officer, IOM, said that the organisation had made possible the return of over 1,170 Nigerians from Libya since February.
She added that the organisation would help the returnees to stand back up on their feet and would give help to others who are wanting to leave the North African country.
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