956 More Nigerians Rescued From Libya In 3 Months
Over 956 Nigerians have been evacuated from Libya in the first quarter of 2025 alone, according to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
In a statement issued on Monday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, it was revealed that this rescue operation was made possible through the collaboration of NiDCOM, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI).
The breakdown of the returnees shows that 683 were females, 132 were males, 87 were children, and 54 were infants. These Nigerians were brought back home in six separate trips from January to March 2025.
The six evacuation trips were:
- January 28: 152 returnees
- February 11: 145 returnees
- February 19: 180 returnees
- February 25: 159 returnees
- March 4: 144 returnees
- March 18: 176 returnees
In the past few years, over 15,000 stranded Nigerians have been evacuated from Libya with the assistance of the federal government and IOM.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated the Commission’s consistent warning to Nigerians to avoid perilous and illegal migration routes, such as those leading through Libya, a country fraught with instability and political unrest. She stated: “Because of the delicate political situation in Libya, we continually caution Nigerians to avoid Libya as a pathway to Europe; not just Libya but other irregular routes.”
The NiDCOM CEO also urged Nigerians to pursue legal and safe migration options, emphasizing that some rescued Nigerians from Libya have unfortunately returned to the same dangerous routes in pursuit of entry into Europe.
She emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, regardless of their socio-economic, ethno-cultural, or religious backgrounds. Dabiri-Erewa called for increased collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the media, and other relevant stakeholders to raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration.
