- 1,295 Nigerians in Libya were repatriated in November as Nigerians were being sold into slavery in the country
- The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the figure is nearly twice as that of October
- More Nigerian nationals are voluntarily returning home after going through horrific experiences in Libya
The National Emergency Agency (NEMA) has said that 1,295 Nigerians returned home from Libya in November, a figure which was twice as that of October, AFP reports.
NAIJ.com gathered that the director-general of the agency, Mustapha Maihaja, said Nigerians were sent back in batches between November 6 and November 30 with the help of the International Organization for Migration and the European Union.
Maihaja said: “1,295 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya in November after being stranded in the volatile North African country en route (to) Europe.”
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Recall that repatriation of Nigerians in Libya started nearly a year ago, but numbers of repatriated Nigerians have increased in recent months.
Over the last few days, Africans around the world have condemned the treatment of migrants in Libya.
African heads of state have also expressed their displeasure over the happenings in Libya.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo condemned Libya for its lack of solidarity with people from other nations on the continent.
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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigerians had been sold 'like goats' and promised to repatriate anyone stuck in the country, which fell into lawlessness after the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
African migrants getting clothing aid prior to repatriation, at a detention center in Libya (Photo credit: AFP)
The migrants boarding buses as they prepared to return home (Photo credit: AFP)
NAIJ.com had previously reported that the federal government said it had a record of 2,778 Nigerian migrants registered in 'accessible' detention camps in Libya, ready for repatriation.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement signed by the spokesperson, Tiwatope Elias-Fatile, said the country’s embassy in Libya had been visiting detention camps to identify Nigerians for registration.
The ministry stated that those registered were issued Emergency Travel Certificates.
Nigerians speak on slavery in Libya - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Thursday, 7 December 2017