NEMA Receives Another Batch Of 329 Stranded Nigerians From Niger Republic

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Sunday received another batch of 329 stranded Nigerians from Agadez, Niger Republic.

The Head of Operations, NEMA Kano Office, Dr Nura Abdullahi, disclosed this while receiving the returnees at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

The returnees arrived at about 10:50 a.m. aboard six luxury buses.

He said they were brought back to Kano by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Mission in Niger Republic and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under a voluntary repatriation programme.
According to him, the programme was designed to ensure the safe and dignified return of stranded Nigerians.
Abdullahi said the returnees comprised 165 males, 72 females, 46 boys and 46 girls from Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Borno and Katsina states, among others.
He said the returnees would be transported to their respective states after physical verification and profiling.

He added that they were given food on arrival, while those with health challenges received medical attention.

Abdullahi advised Nigerians, especially youths, to avoid irregular migration and the dangers associated with seeking livelihoods outside the country under unsafe conditions.

He urged the returnees to become advocates against irregular migration by sensitising others on its risks.
One of the returnees, Mrs Fatima Sani, a widow and mother of five from Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, said she travelled to Libya in search of a better livelihood after the death of her husband.
She said hardship pushed her to travel, but added that she was attacked by thieves who stole her money and that life in Libya was difficult.

Another returnee, Mrs Saihatu Idris, said she travelled to Libya with her two children to sell ready-made clothes but was robbed by bandits.

She said she spent only 24 days there and had realised that Nigeria was safer.
The returnees were received by officials of NEMA, the State Emergency Management Agency, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and the Red Cross Society, among others.