Reunions: 956 Nigerians Return Home after Libya Rescue

956 Nigerians were evacuated from Libya in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), which continues to provide warnings about the perils of illegal migration.

In a press statement released on Monday, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa revealed that the evacuations were carried out in coordination with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to a breakdown of the numbers, there were 683 women, 132 men, 87 children, and 54 babies among the 956 returns. Between January and March 2025, they were returned in six batches.

Dabiri-Erewa pointed out that the Federal Government and its foreign allies have worked to rescue more than 15,000 trapped Nigerians from Libya in previous years.

She reaffirmed the cautions of NiDCOM on the use of Libya as a transit route to Europe, characterizing the North African nation as dangerous because of its continuous political unrest.

Part of the statement said: "The six trips included 152 returnees on January 28 and 144 and 176 arriving on March 4 and 18 and 145, 180, and 159 on February 11, 19, and 25 respectively."

We consistently warn Nigerians against utilizing Libya as a route to Europe due to the country's precarious political status. She cautioned, "It's not just Libya; there are other unauthorized migratory routes as well.

Concerned that some evacuees would try the voyage again via even riskier routes, the head of NiDCOM advised Nigerians to use legitimate migration channels.

She gave her word that the Federal Government is still dedicated to defending Nigerians' rights and dignity both domestically and internationally.