File Photo: Precious Chioma cries as she recounts the ordeal she passed through with her two sons in their attempt to illegally travel to Europe from Nigeria. She sold all of her possessions to finance the trip but ended up in a Libyan prison after she was caught with her children hiding in suffocating conditions inside a watermelon truck. (PRNewsFoto/Emmanuel TV)
Another 140 Nigerians who voluntarily agreed to return to Nigeria from Libya where they have been stranded on Tuesday arrived the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Lagos, aboard a Libyan Airlines plane.
One of the returnees described her experience in Libya as living in hell.
Mrs Ifeoluwa Adeosun, an indigene of Owo in Ondo State, stated she sold all her property to travel to Germany when her husband, Adeosun died.
She however lamented that she suffered a lot while in Libya.
She stated she decided to go abroad in search of the means to take care of her children after the demise of her husband.
She thanked IOM and Federal Government for her trip back to Nigeria,
Adeosun appealed to the Federal Government to evacuate other Nigerians in Libya, adding that they are suffering there.
Among the 140 returnees were 74 adult females, 52 adult males, one female child, two male children, three female infants, two male infants and six unaccompanied kids, out of which five are female and one male.
Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), stated the International Organization for Migration (IOM), facilitated their journey back into the country.
Sidi, who was represented by Dr Onimode Bandele, Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, NEMA said:
“What makes this special is that we have four minor accompanied among them.
“We have to do proper training to see that these people are united with their families.
“We have three medical cases on board and our doctors are aware of their cases and waiting to attend to them,” he stated.
The director general thanked the IOM that made it possible for the Nigerians to return home and the Nigeria government who mobilised different agencies for the exercise
He advised the returnees to stop running away from the country, adding that they should stay to develop the country together with their compatriots.
“My advice for you is to sit down at home, struggle and let’s develop our country. The country you are running to, their citizens developed it. If all of us run out of the country, who will develop it.
“So let stay back, struggle, work hard and ensure that our country is a better place for us,” he stated.
Head of Lagos Office of IOM, Dr Nahashon Thuo, stated most of the returnees were trying to cross to Europe without valid immigration papers.
Thuo stated they were arrested by Libyan Immigration.
He, whoever, stated the returnees indicated their interest to return to Nigeria, adding that they would be given 50 dollars each by the organization.
Several government agencies were on hand to receive the returnees. Among the agencies were the Nigeria Immigration Service, Port Health from the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Agency against Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIPs)
.....