The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday reported it received 281 distressed Nigerians from Libya within 24 hours.
The returnees were brought in two batches of 151 and 130 respectively. They were assisted back home by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The first batch of 151 persons arrived at the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Tuesday night aboard an Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG. The second batch arrived Wednesday evening.
NEMA’s Lagos Office Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye said the returnees were received by the agency’s Director General, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed.
Farinloye said those returned Tuesday night comprised 71 adult females, two of which had medical challenges; 10 female children and seven infant girls; 54 adult males, four boys and five infant boys.
“They arrived the airport aboard Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG at about 7:30pm. The other batch landed at the airport aboard Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG at about 16hours on Wednesday.
“A total of 69 females were brought back including 62 adults and seven children, while 61 males which comprised 58 adults, a child and two infants were in this batch. In all, 281 persons were returned within 24 hours from Libya.”
The DG represented by Farinloye said the returnees were urged to turn new leaf and stop searching for greener pastures where such no longer existed.
He reassured them of the government’s readiness to offer support and reintegrate them with their loved ones.