Another set of 218 returnees from Libya arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in the wee hours of Tuesday three days after some 165 were repatriated.

The repatriation of the stranded returnees was facilitated the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) which has hit the 8000th mark since the exercise commenced.

Today’s arrival has brought the number of returnees to 8,129 under the EU/IOM Assisted Voluntary Returnees.

The latest batch of returnees was received the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies of the Federal Government including the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced persons (NCFRMI) and the Airport officials. 

South West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Sulaiman Yakubu said the returnees comprised 46 female adults including seven pregnant women and five female infants with 161 male adults including a stable medical case, two male children and nine male infants.

The flight arrived at about 3:44 a.m in a Libyan Airline A330-200 aircraft with registration number 5A-LAU.

The Zonal Coordinator while receiving the returnees implored them to be champions of change in sensitising the youths against the temptation of seeking greener pastures through illegal migration, describing such as “a dangerous venture.”

He assured them that the federal government is pursuing socio-economic programmes aimed at giving employment opportunities to the youths.

 One of the returnees, Ms Titilayo Kayode-Owojori from Ile Ife, Osun State said she regrets embarking on the ill-fated journey. She however expressed gratitude to  God for bringing her back safe and healthy.

Source: Daily Trust