By Desire Emmanuel
Twenty three Nigerians who were detained for various offences in Libya have been repatriated back to Nigeria, Impact Nigeria News Online gathered on Tuesday, March 3.
The Nigerians, who travelled to the North African country apparently in order to be able to get to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and eventually got stranded in Libya, were said to have been arrested and detained for committing various criminal activities.
It was gathered that following the intervention of the International Organisation for Migrants (IOM) and the Libya’s Department for Combatting Illegal Immigrants (DCIM), the Nigerians were released and ordered to be repatriated back to Nigeria.
They were therefore brought out from East Tripoli Immigration Detention Centre on Monday evening and taken to the Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, the country’s capital, for their airlift to Nigeria.
They are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos later on Tuesday.
Many Nigerians who travelled to Libya with the intention of crossing to Europe and who got stranded have been brought back to the Nigeria after spending years in the North African country.
In 2025 alone, over 20,000 Nigerians, including those who became stranded after they were promised non-existent lucrative jobs in the country, were repatriated back to the country.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has, on many occasions, warned Nigerians to desist from embarking on deadly journeys to Libya and also urged the citizens to avoid being lured with lucrative job offers to the country.
Despite the warnings however, many Nigerians continue to travel to Libya with the hope of getting into Europe through the sea in order to better their lives.
