One hundred and forty Nigerians were yesterday deported from Libya for immigration and sundry offences.
One of the deportees in sorrowful mood
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday
received no fewer than 140 Nigerians who were deported from Libya, as
they arrived in the country.
It was gathered that the deportees who arrived on board a Libyan
Airline, were received by the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) of the South-West zone.
Punch reported that three of the deportees who had medical issues,
were said to have been taken to a hospital, where they were admitted for
treatment.
On arrival, the deportees were documented by relevant security
agencies before they were ferried out of the airport by buses provided
by emergency relief organisations.
It was reported further that most of the deportees had been in
detention in various Libyan prisons before they were released after the
intervention of the International Organisation for Migration and the
Nigerian embassy in Libya.
Speaking with correspondents, the spokesperson for NEMA, South-West
zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the development, said:
“A total of 140 Nigerians were deported. While some of them
were from the villages and hinterland, a lot of them were imprisoned.
But they all had the desire to return home due to the ugly experiences
they had.
“Their deportation was facilitated by the International
Organisation for Migration and the Nigerian embassy in Libya. They took
off from Libya around 12.30pm Nigerian time and arrived at 4.30pm. Of
the 140 deportees, 74 were male adults, while 52 were female adults. We
also had six unaccompanied underage, consisting five females and one
male. There were four infants among the deportees. Three of the
deportees had medical issues and had to be taken to the hospital.
“Most of them dispersed to their various states — Benue, Edo,
Anambra, Enugu — while we got six accommodated in hotels. Many of them
left in two BRT buses for the Synagogue Church of All Nations.”
Farinloye said the deportees regretted their decision to travel
abroad, and that they had sad tales to tell, adding that the NEMA DG
challenged them to stay in Nigeria and contribute to the development of
the country.
He said, “They said what they passed through was what they
would never wish for their enemies. The DG told them that even Libya
that they went to believe there is no place like Nigeria because Nigeria
has the most liberal policies for foreigners. He told them to stay back
in Nigeria and help in developing the country and we will soon overcome
our challenges.”
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