Libya Government Apprehends, Deports Over 300 Nigerians

War-torn Libya on Tuesday deported no fewer than 320 Europe-bound stranded Nigerians with the International Organisation for Migration coordinating moves to help the migrants return to Nigeria.

Following a protracted war in the country, Libya has become a key departure point on North Africa’s Mediterranean coast for migrants, mainly from other parts of Africa, risking dangerous sea voyages in hopes of reaching Europe.

According to an AFP report, Libya’s rival administrations in 2023 agreed on a Tripoli-based anti-immigration body tasked with coordinating deportations of foreigners who are in the country illegally.

Libya migration agency’s head of security, Mohamad Baredaa, told AFP, “We carried out on Tuesday the expulsion of 163 irregular migrants of Nigerian nationality from the Mitiga airport, including 107 women, 51 men and five children.”

In a move coordinated with the International Organisation for Migration, Baredaa said that “160 Nigerians will be sent back to their country from Benina airport in Benghazi” later on Tuesday.

AFP reports that its correspondent saw the first group at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport early Tuesday, where they were given a laissez-passer before boarding shuttles to the plane.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, there are more than 700,000 migrants in Libya.

As foreign countries like the United Kingdom tighten their immigration policies, many Nigerians are still racing to leave the country following the wave of “Japa” and as economic conditions continue to worsen amid naira devaluation.