Libyan returnees being attended to by officials at the Hajj Camp in Port Harcourt . Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
…as figure rises to 643 in 5 weeks
By Bose Adelaja
A total number of 166 Nigerians who voluntarily returned from Libya , has arrived Lagos aboard a Libyan Airlines with registration number 5A-DMG landed at the NAHCO Tarmac of the Muhammad Murtala International Airport MMIA, Lagos at about 10.30pm on Thursday.
Libya returnees on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport Sunday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
After the profiling of the returnees, the 66 female adults including 3 pregnant women, 5 female children and 1 female infant along with 83 male adults, 6 male children and 5 male infants were those brought back by the International Organization for Migrants IOM, through the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme.
This made it a total of 643 that have voluntarily brought back to Nigeria by IOM in the last 5 weeks.
The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, Engr Mustapha Maihajja who received the Returnee advised parents and guardians to desist from encouraging their children and wards from embarking on journey that will end up derailed the promising futures of the victims of trafficking.
The Director General made the appeal due to the testimonies and confessions of the returnees and confirmations by most of the families that the victims came from.
He pointed out that the intended countries of destinations are no longer ready to accommodate migrants due to several socioeconomic and security factors.
Above this is the unconfirmed reports of emerging trends of alleged human organ harvesting from irregular migrants who are alleged to be sold to harvesters, if this developments are real, then we must discourage irregular migrations in whatever forms.
Engr. Maihajja emphasized that discouraging irregular migration and human smuggling can only be achieved by government and development partners with full cooperation of the parents and guardians of our youths through consistent awareness and sensitization of dangers and evils of human trafficking
The NEMA boss once again reiterated that Federal Government will not relent in its efforts at creating conducive environment for every Nigerians to maximize his/her potentials in the progress and development of the nation.
The Director General was represented by the Southwest Zonal Coordinator of the Agency, Alh Yakubu Suleman.
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