140 additional Nigerians who were trapped in Agadas, Niger Republic, were brought to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday.
While welcoming the returnees in Kano, the NEMA Coordinator for the Kano Territorial Office, Dr. Nuradeen Abdullahi, confirmed this.
He claims that the returnees were transported from Agadas to Kano at approximately 9.38 p.m. in three luxurious vehicles under the supervision of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to Abdullahi, the returnees were returned home as part of a voluntary repatriation program for those in need who had fled their country in search of better lives in different European nations but were unable to afford to come home after their journey was unsuccessful.
According to him, the returns included 100 adult males, 30 adult females, and 10 kids (six female, four male).
“The returnees are from different parts of the country, some from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jos, Lagos and Cross River, among other states.”
The coordinator added that in addition to receiving a grant to launch enterprises, the returnees would receive four days of training to become independent.
The returnees received clothing, food, toiletries, blankets, mosquito nets, pampers, and sanitary pads, InsightnaijaTV reports.
He urged the returnees to serve as advocates and ambassadors for spreading awareness of irregular migration.
“Nigerians should avoid endangering their lives by travelling to seek for greener pastures in other countries as no country is better than Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.
A returnee, Madam Aisha Lawal, from Kaduna State, a divorcee and mother of five, said she travelled to Libya for greener pasture with one of her kids.
“I was a business woman before I left my husband, we are suffering and i have no capital to continue with my business that was why I decided to travel to Libya,” she said.
Another returnee, Mr Richard Odogwu from Lagos State, said before he travelled he was working in a company.
“I was sacked from the company I work to make little money in taking care of my six siblings.
“My parents are dead and I have to take care of my siblings that was why i decided to travel to Libya to search for greener pasture,” said Odogwu.
InsightnaijaTV reports that the organization received 227 stranded Nigerians from Agadas between May and June.
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and IDPs, SEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and IDPs, as well as the DSS, all received the returnees.
