Nearly 160 migrants voluntarily deported from Libya to Nigeria

A group of 159 illegal migrants has been voluntarily repatriated from Libya to Nigeria, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The migrants returned safely from Benghazi to Lagos under the IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return and Reintegration (VHR) programme, which is supported by EU funding.

The IOM expressed gratitude to its donors, including the EU, Italy, Norway, and Denmark, for enabling over 16,000 migrants to return to their home countries in 2024 alone.

Libya has long been a key departure point for African migrants attempting to reach Europe, especially following the instability in the country after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. This instability, combined with the chaos that followed, has led many migrants to risk the dangerous Mediterranean crossing. However, many of these migrants face severe hardship and danger, with 3,855 intercepted this year alone and 75 reported dead on the Central Mediterranean route, according to IOM statistics.

Libya’s Interior Minister, Emad al-Tarabelsi, recently warned that if international support for voluntary return programs does not increase, the country may have to resort to forced deportations. The call highlights the ongoing challenges Libya faces in managing migration and the need for greater global cooperation to address the crisis and provide viable solutions for migrants.