TheCable

The federal government says it has evacuated 281 Nigerians, who were stranded and detained in various prisons, from Libya.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kabiru Musa, Charge d’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, said the evacuation was conducted in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Musa said 159 were those who were imprisoned in Libya, while 122 were stranded Nigerians.

He said the first evacuees departed Tripoli International Airport, Libya and were expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Tuesday evening.

“The federal government in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) airlifted 122 stranded Nigerians on 12 of December from Tripoli, Libya to Lagos aboard chartered flight No.UZ 189,” NAN quoted Musa as saying.

“The flight has 47 male adults, 45 female adults, 18 children and 12 infants, all the passengers were stranded in various areas of Tripoli.

“The other 159 Nigerians from detention centers were also repatriated aboard chartered flight No.UZ190 at 13:25 hours local time and is expected to arrive Murtala Muhammed international airport Lagos at 16:25 hours same day.”

He said the evacuees are 50 male adults, 94 female adults, and 6 infants.

“The continuous Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) is a reflection of the commitments of the Nigerian government to address the challenges of its citizens both home and abroad,” he added.

“We continue to thank the IOM and the Libyan authorities for all their support in making the evacuation exercise, and release of those in detention facilities possible.”

He added that the Nigerian mission in Libya, supported by the IOM, had repatriated over 6,000 stranded Nigerians from Libya between 2022 and December 2023.