Libya has sent 177 Nigerian migrants, mostly women and children, back to their country as part of an effort to manage illegal migration. Officials confirmed that the return took place on Tuesday through a flight from Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport.
Mohamed Bred’a, an officer in charge of migration, said the process was voluntary, meaning the migrants agreed to return home.
“The deportation is humanitarian and voluntary, as part of the department’s plan,” he said.
He added that more flights were planned for the week as Libya continues to send migrants back to their countries.
Libya has become a major route for people trying to reach Europe, especially after the country became unstable following the removal of its leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011. To deal with the growing number of migrants, Libya’s Interior Minister, Emad al-Tarabelsi, has asked for more help from the European Union and other countries affected by migration.
He pointed out that instead of focusing only on stopping migrants at the coast, it is more important to secure Libya’s borders to prevent them from entering the country in the first place. He also suggested that improving living conditions in migrants’ home countries could reduce the number of people trying to leave in search of a better life.
