By OLA MUDOPE, Lagos –
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has successfully evacuated 327 stranded Nigerians as well as those released from detention facilities in Tripoli, Libya.
Amb. Kabiru Musa, Chargé D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday.
Musa said that 165 of the evacuees were Nigerians freed from detention facilities in Tripoli, while others were stranded in the country.
He stated that the evacuees were repatriated in two batches from Tripoli International Airport and Benina International Airport, Benghazi, on Tuesday evening.
According to him, the evacuees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on the same day at night.
“Today, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), conducted another evacuation exercise, repatriating 327 stranded Nigerians in two different categories from Libya.
“The category of 165 evacuees who were airlifted from Tripoli International Airport, Libya, included those released from detention facilities, and they included 108 women, 52 men, four infants, and one child.
“The other 162 evacuees included 95 women, 30 men, 19 infants, and 18 children, who were stranded in the Libya, and they departed for Nigeria from the Benina International Airport in Benghazi, Libya.
“Both batches of evacuees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on the same day.
“Government officials from relevant agencies will be waiting on ground to receive and reintegrate them into the Nigerian society upon their arrival.
“This is the first evacuation of the year; we anticipate that more evacuation exercises will be carried out in the course of the year, in fulfilment of the Federal Government’s pledge not to abandon any of its citizens abroad,” Musa stated.
Musa thanked the Libyan authorities for supporting the efforts of the Federal Government in facilitating the release of those in detention facilities.
The envoy also appreciated the IOM for its continuous support under its continuous Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) exercise.
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