More than 200 Nigerian nationals stranded in Libya have been flown back home in a coordinated repatriation effort led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with financial backing from the European Union.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the IOM confirmed the voluntary return of 204 migrants, including 130 women, from Benghazi to Lagos. Although no specific dates were provided, the operation is part of a broader humanitarian program targeting vulnerable migrants across North Africa.
“This mission was supported through the EU’s Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration programme,” the organization noted.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a dangerous corridor for migrants attempting to reach Europe. With weakened state institutions and widespread insecurity, many find themselves trapped in detention centers or exploited by smuggling networks.
The IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) initiative offers migrants the option to return safely to their countries of origin. Returnees are often provided with basic reintegration support upon arrival.
Migration experts have long raised concerns over the humanitarian toll of Libya’s migrant crisis. In March, Libya’s Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi urged the European Union and affected nations to step up efforts in curbing illegal migration and supporting return operations.
The latest repatriation reflects ongoing efforts to manage migration flows through voluntary and humane means, while highlighting the deepening need for long-term solutions across the region.