By Israel Adebiyi
Among the 182 stranded Nigerians evacuated from Libya on Tuesday night were two children who returned home without their parents, underscoring the human cost of the dangerous migration routes that continue to trap many citizens abroad.
The returnees, evacuated from Benghazi, Libya, arrived aboard a charter flight at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme coordinated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Federal Government and the European Union.
The group comprised 153 adults, including 108 women and 45 men, alongside 17 children and 12 infants. IOM officials disclosed that two of the children arrived unaccompanied, raising concerns about the vulnerabilities faced by migrants, particularly minors, along irregular migration routes.
Receiving the returnees, IOM Head of Sub-Office in Lagos, Ali Ibrahim, described the journey through Libya and other irregular migration corridors as perilous, noting that many migrants endure traumatic experiences before eventually seeking assistance to return home.
"They are home today after difficult journeys along migration routes. Many left in search of opportunity, but instead faced hardship, uncertainty and for some, exploitation. Today there is relief, but return is only the first step. Working closely with the Government of Nigeria and with the support from the European Union, IOM is helping turn return into a pathway toward recovery. Upon arrival, returnees receive reception support, health screening and counselling. Those eligible can also access reintegration assistance to help them rebuild their lives. That support can include skills training, small business support and psychosocial care," Ibrahim said.
He explained that the evacuation forms part of ongoing efforts to rescue Nigerians stranded in transit countries and facilitate their reintegration into society upon return.
According to him, the returnees would immediately be enrolled in a comprehensive support programme designed to help them rebuild their lives.
"In coordination with the Nigerian government and other partners, we provide reception assistance here at the airport and also reintegration assistance later through their reintegration journey. We provide support upon arrival immediately. We provide immediate return assistance. This could include screening for health, supporting with psychosocial first aid and also immediate needs. And after return, we support them with reintegration assistance. What that means is that we support them to reintegrate back to this community where they recover and rebuild their lives. This could mean many things. Livelihood support, business assistance, assistance with education and also other needs as they arise," he said.
The support package, he noted, includes livelihood grants, business support, educational assistance and other interventions tailored to individual needs.
Figures released by the organisation reveal the scale of the migration challenge. Between January and June 2026 alone, 7,625 Nigerians were voluntarily returned from countries in North Africa, while a total of 65,700 Nigerians have been assisted back home since the programme began in 2017.
Responding to questions about why some migrants attempt the journey again after returning, Ibrahim stressed that migration itself is not a crime but should be undertaken through safe and legal channels.
"Voluntary return means that you are a migrant in another country, find yourself in a stranded situation and make a choice to come back to your country of origin," he explained.
"Migration is a choice. What we are trying to promote is that the choice should be made correctly. We promote safe migration by ensuring people have access to the right information to make informed decisions."
The IOM disclosed that evacuation operations have now been intensified, with repatriation flights arriving weekly through Lagos and Kano, while additional rescued Nigerians continue to arrive through commercial flights at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.