Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Some 325 Nigerians have been deported from Libya within the last two days for breaching immigration rules, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said on Thursday. The first batch of 164 deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday aboard a chartered Air Memphis aircraft from Sebha in Libya, according to airport officials.
On Tuesday, another batch of 161 Nigerians composed of young males and females was flown into the country.
A senior police officer at the Lagos airport told AFP that the youths were deported as a result of immigration offences ranging from expired visas, illegal documentation to fake visas.
But observers say the Libyan government is currently ridding its country of illegal residents with the aim of creating jobs for its citizens to survive the global economic meltdown.
Unable to obtain Schengen visas and still determined to flee the harsh economic realities back home, many Nigerians travel by road to Libya and strive to make a way into Europe, but most times get into trouble with the Libyan security forces.
Over 4,000 Nigerians have been deported in the last one year from Libya according to the Nigerian national daily, The Guardian.
Some 325 Nigerians have been deported from Libya within the last two days for breaching immigration rules, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said on Thursday. The first batch of 164 deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday aboard a chartered Air Memphis aircraft from Sebha in Libya, according to airport officials.
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