By our reporter 28.10.2026
Facing xenophobic threats and hardship in Libya 180 Nigerians have been repatriated from Sabha, Libya.
Their return to Lagos was facilitated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) under the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Programme coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Federal Government.
The returnees were received by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), through its Lagos Operations Office when they arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State on Tuesday October 27, 2026.
The group comprised 143 adults, including 75 males and 68 females; 26 children, comprising 12 males and 14 females; and 11 infants, including three males and eight females.
They were processed by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and given immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, potable water, medical screening, ambulance services for those requiring medical attention, luggage handling, logistical support, reception coordination and counselling. Reintegration support was also provided to facilitate their return to their respective communities.
Hundreds of undocumented Nigerians remain in Sabha, which serves as the primary southern gateway city in Libya for sub-Saharan migrants. It is one of the most dangerous and volatile transit hubs on the continent.
Living conditions there are defined by a complete lack of security, systemic criminal exploitation, and a breakdown of basic urban infrastructure. The stretch between Qatroun and Sabha is heavily controlled by desert warlords, criminal syndicates, and armed street gangs, most notably a notorious group known as the Asma Boys.
Nigerians are routinely intercepted, kidnapped, and placed in informal, illegal detention.