Date: June 3, 2026 l By: Dew Washer
LAGOS, Nigeria — A fresh group of stranded Nigerians has returned home after the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations migration agency, carried out another evacuation operation from Libya, bringing back 180 migrants who had faced difficult and uncertain conditions abroad.
The returnees arrived at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard a chartered flight from Libya as part of an ongoing humanitarian programme designed to assist vulnerable migrants and discourage irregular migration routes.
According to the IOM, most of those evacuated were women and children who had become stranded while attempting to travel or settle outside Nigeria. Many reportedly experienced detention, exploitation, and prolonged uncertainty during their time in Libya.
Officials said the evacuation was coordinated through collaboration involving the IOM, Nigerian authorities, and international partners to facilitate voluntary returns and support migrants seeking a safer path back home.
Upon arrival in Lagos, the returnees received immediate assistance, including health assessments, counselling services, and initial support aimed at helping them recover from their experiences. Eligible individuals are also expected to receive reintegration assistance that may include education support, livelihood opportunities, and economic recovery programmes.
IOM officials explained that voluntary return programmes are intended to offer stranded migrants a dignified way home while encouraging safer and legal migration pathways in the future. The agency emphasized that migration itself is not discouraged but should occur through lawful and informed channels.
Data released by the organisation shows that more than 65,500 stranded Nigerian migrants have been assisted to return over the past nine years, while tens of thousands have also received psychological, social, and economic support to rebuild their lives after returning.
The latest evacuation comes as concerns continue to grow over the risks linked to irregular migration routes across North Africa and the Mediterranean region. Nigerian authorities have repeatedly warned citizens against travelling internationally without valid documentation and have urged people to use approved and legal migration channels.
For many of the returnees, the flight home represented more than a journey back to Nigeria — it marked the beginning of recovery and another opportunity to rebuild their futures.