Another 257 Nigerians Arrive From Libya

A few hours after 144 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya, another aircraft carrying 257 of their compatriots landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday.The spokesperson for the Lagos Airport Police Command, Mr Joseph Alabi, said the returnees arrived aboard a Libyan Airlines aircraft at the Cargo Wing of the airport at about 1.30 a.m.

He said they were assisted back to Nigeria by the International Organisation for Migration and the European Union after being stranded in the volatile North African country en route Europe.

Alabi said, “We received another batch of Nigerians early this morning from Libya. “They comprised of 65 adult females, 179 adult males, seven children and six infants.”


He also confirmed that four of the returnees had medical cases and were promptly taken away on an ambulance for treatment.

According to him, the returnees were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

Another set of 144 Nigerians had arrived on Tuesday at about 6.45 p.m. aboard a chartered Buraq Airlines aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG.

They were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by the Wife of the President, Haija Aisha Buhari, represented by the Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode.

Also on the ground to receive them was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa and officials of other government agencies.

NAN