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At least 320 Nigerians who were trapped in Libya have been rescued, and the International Organisation for Migration is coordinating efforts to help them return home.
Migrants from several African nations aiming to reach Europe pour to Libya, which has become a major departure point.
Last year, Libya’s warring governments agreed to establish a Tripoli-based anti-immigration organization entrusted with coordinating the repatriation of foreigners living in the country illegally.
“On Tuesday, we expelled 163 irregular migrants of Nigerian nationality from Mitiga airport, including 107 women, 51 men, and five children,” Libya migration agency’s head of security, Mohamad Baredaa, told AFP.
In a move coordinated with the IOM, Baredaa stated that “160 Nigerians will be sent back to their country from Benina airport in Benghazi” later on Tuesday, January 30.
An AFP correspondent observed the first group arrive at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport early Tuesday, where they were issued a laissez-passer before boarding shuttles to the plane.
According to the International Organization for Migration, there are over 700,000 migrants in Libya.
