The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has received another batch of 329 stranded Nigerians evacuated from Agadez in Niger Republic.
The returnees were received on Sunday at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano by the Head of Operations, NEMA Kano Office, Dr. Nura Abdullahi.
According to him, the evacuees arrived at about 10:50 a.m. in six luxury buses.
Abdullahi said the returnees were brought back through a joint effort involving the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Mission in Niger Republic and the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, under a voluntary repatriation programme.
“The programme was meant to ensure the safe and dignified return of stranded Nigerians,” he said.
He disclosed that the returnees comprised 165 males, 72 females, 46 boys and 46 girls from Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Borno and Katsina states, among others.
The NEMA official explained that after physical verification and profiling, the returnees would be transported to their respective states.
He added that the evacuees were provided with food, while those with health challenges received medical attention.
Abdullahi advised Nigerians against risking their lives through irregular migration in search of better livelihoods abroad.
He also urged the returnees to sensitise other youths on the dangers associated with irregular migration.
One of the returnees, Mrs Fatima Sani, a widow and mother of five from Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, said she travelled to Libya in search of better opportunities after the death of her husband.
“My husband died two years ago, leaving me with five children. We had no food to eat and could not pay our house rent. That was why I travelled to Libya to make money to pay my rent and start a business,” she said.
She narrated that she was attacked by thieves who stole her money, adding that life in Libya was difficult.
“I worked as a house help in Libya, doing chores such as sweeping and washing dishes. Life was not easy in Libya,” she added.
Another returnee, Mrs Saihatu Idris, said she travelled to Libya with her two children to sell ready-made clothes.
“This was my first time travelling to Libya. Bandits attacked us and stole my clothes and money.
“I only spent 24 days there. I now realise Nigeria is safer,” she said.
She appealed to the government to support the returnees with grants to help them rebuild their lives and cater for their families.
Officials of NEMA, SEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, as well as the Red Cross Society, were present to receive the returnees.
