326 stranded Nigerians arrive from Libya

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Some 326 Nigerians stranded in crisis-ridden Libya have returned to the country's commercial capital Lagos, officials said on Friday.

Idris Mohamed, Lagos head of the relief agency NEMA, said the returnees arrived in two batches late Thursday and early Friday morning.

Mohamed said the repatriation was facilitated by the UN’s International Organization for Migration and the European Union under the assisted voluntary returnees’ program.

On Thursday 143 of the returnees arrived on board a plane run by Tripoli-based Buraq airlines, while early Friday another 183 touched down in Lagos on board a plane from Tunisian-based Nouvelair.

“The breakdown of the returnees shows that they included 148 female adults, six female children, and 15 female infants, making a total of 169 females,” said Mohamed.

“The males are 143 male adults, two male children, and 12 male infants, making a total of 157 males.”

Thousands of Nigerians have been evacuated from war-torn Libya after videos emerged of their suffering and alleged slave-raiding of black Africans in the country.