The government of Nigeria in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), announced the return of 145 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya under the IOM Voluntary Humanitarian Return programme.

Ambassador Kabiru Musa, Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, said on Monday that the stranded Nigerians were in various detention centres for living illegally in Libya and without travel documents.

He added that his government with support from IOM, evacuated the irregular migrants who expressed willingness to return home after the difficult circumstances they found themselves in while in detention.

The migrants departed from Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport on Monday afternoon and arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on Monday evening.

The group included 119 women and 26 men.