Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has restated its warning against irregular migration following a viral video showing Nigerians stranded in Libya.
The agency lamented that despite past evacuation efforts and clear advisories, many Nigerians continue to take dangerous migration routes, prompting renewed calls for caution and stricter measures against traffickers.
The video, which has garnered widespread attention, has prompted the commission to reiterate its ongoing efforts to evacuate stranded citizens.
In a statement by NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun on Tuesday, it was noted that over 10,000 Nigerians were evacuated from Libya a few years ago through the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian government and international agencies.
The operation was led by NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa and approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Despite warnings issued by Dabiri-Erewa against embarking on dangerous migration journeys, many Nigerians have continued to travel to Libya, resulting in more cases of stranded citizens.
“While this video will be looked into, it is worth noting that over 10,000 Nigerians were evacuated from Libya a few years ago, following a directive by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari. A multi-agency coalition was set up to facilitate the evacuation of all Nigerians stranded in Libya.
“Despite clear warnings by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to Nigerians to avoid this dangerous path, the warnings have not been heeded,” Balogun clarified.
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He further stated that in recent months, the International Organisation for Migration in Nigeria has successfully evacuated almost 4,000 Nigerians from Libya.
However, the commission expressed concern that many continue to return to the country only to face the same challenges.
The spokesperson noted, “In recent months, nearly 4,000 more Nigerians have been brought back from Libya, thanks to the efforts of the International Organisation for Migration in Nigeria, which has been regularly evacuating stranded Nigerians.
“Unfortunately, many Nigerians continue to return to Libya, only to find themselves stranded once again.”
NiDCOM has brought the recent viral video to the attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser, which leads the multi-agency team responsible for evacuations.
The commission once again warned against the dangers of irregular migration routes and stressed the need for traffickers involved in these operations to be arrested and publicly exposed.
“We reiterate that dangerous migration routes must be avoided, and traffickers responsible for these heinous acts must be arrested, named, and shamed,” he added.
