A fresh batch of 164 Nigerians stranded in Libya have returned to the country, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said.
The returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos at about 12:15 on Friday.
They were received by Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, on behalf of the coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of the agency, Idris Muhammed.
Shortly after their arrival, officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) apprehended two suspected human traffickers.
The suspects were arrested after they were identified by their victims during an event organised to receive the returnees.
Addressing the returnees, Farinloye urged them to seize the opportunity they have to start a positive and fruitful life in the country.
According to him, there is nothing wrong in seeking greener overseas but the methods applied are mostly inappropriate and entail avoidable risks.
“One will not appreciate the abundant resources God has endowed us with until you travel out. All of you have gone and fortunately come back alive and you are in the best position to tell the story to those still aspiring to embark on such a journey,” the NEMA official told the returnees.
He added, “We understand that many of you were deceived with very juicy opportunities overseas and these are mostly your close relatives; you need to assist the government to stem the menace of trafficking by giving information to government agencies who are going to protect your identity and safety.”
Farinloye also asked the returnees to be champions of positive thinking among the youths that they don’t have to go overseas before living a meaningful life.
After profiling, it was revealed that the returnees comprised 71 female adults, 17 female children, and six female infants, as well as 55 male adults, 13 male children, and two male infants.
Amongst them were three returnees with medical cases and a pregnant woman who started having a labour of childbirth upon her arrival in Nigeria.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) facilitated their return with special funding by the European Union, in a programme that would end in April 2020.
