147 Migrants in Libya Deported to Nigeria

By Xinhua 

December 5, 2023

The Libyan Illegal Migration Control Department on Monday announced the deportation of 147 migrants back to Nigeria.

“A group of 147 illegal migrants from Nigeria were deported via Tripoli Mitiga International Airport to their country,” said Fathi Shnebbu, head of the Department’s information and documentation office.

He said the deported migrants include 122 women and 25 men.

“Those migrants were involved in criminal groups and committed crimes of drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and prostitution,” Shnebbu said.

Because of the instability and chaos in the country since the imperialist-backed overthrow of late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s government in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya.

So far this year, a total of 15,057 illegal migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration.