Libya yesterday, repatriated 369 irregular migrants including more than one hundred women and children, to their home countries Nigeria and Mali.
Head of the Libyan Interior Ministry, Mohammed Baredaa, charged with halting irregular migration, said two repatriation flights took place transporting 204 Nigerians and 165 Malians.
Nine babies, 18 minors, and 108 women were among the Nigerian irregular migrants, said Baredaa. He said that the flights were carried out “in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)”. The UN agency provides free return flights to migrants and helps reintegrate them into their home countries with its “voluntary humanitarian return programme”. But some migrants told AFP, yesterday, that they were being forcibly deported.
Libyan authorities “came at night and broke down the door”, said Hakim, 59, a Nigerian who has lived in Libya for 25 years”. He said they confiscated his passport before detaining him and his wife prior to repatriation. Libya is still struggling to recover from years of war and chaos after the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Smugglers and human traffickers have taken advantage of the climate of instability that has dominated the vast country since. Libya has been criticised over the treatment of migrant and refugees, with accusations from rights groups ranging from extortion to slavery.
Police Nab Four Suspected Armed Robbers, Recover Two Guns In Delta Operatives of the Delta State Police Command Rapid Response Squad on stop and search duty along Kwale Road have arrested four suspected armed robbers. The suspects include; Savage Roland ‘m’ aged 26yrs, Clever Imonukore ‘m’ aged 29yrs, Isaac Umukoro, male, aged 49yrs, and Louis Opone ‘m’ aged 40yrs.
The Police also recovered from the suspects, two brand new pump action guns. Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, yesterday.
The Police image maker said operatives of the Command’s Rapid Response squad while on stop and search duty along Kwale road, intercepted a Lexus 350 SUV, and upon search, two brand new pump action guns were recovered.” According to him, “Four suspects namely; Savage Roland ‘m’ aged 26yrs from Afisere, Ughelli North, Clever Imonukore ‘m’ aged 29yrs, Isaac Umukoro ‘m’ aged 49yrs, and Louis Opone ‘m’ aged 40yrs were arrested.”
