Two Suspected Traffickers Nabbed As 164 Nigerians Return From Libya

Two suspected human traffickers were on Friday apprehended for trafficking some Nigerians to Libya with the promise of taking them to Europe.

The suspects (named withheld) were apprehended after they were identified by their victims during the profiling of 164 Nigerians who voluntarily returned from the volatile North African country.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, a spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency, South West Zone, confirmed the development to newsmen in Lagos.

Farinloye said the suspected traffickers have been handed over to officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation.

According to him, the two men were among the new batch of 164 returnees who arrived the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos about 12.15am on Friday.

He said the Nigerians were brought by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme that would end in April 2020.

Farinloye said, “The returnees were brought onboard a chartered Al Burag Airline Boeing 737-800 aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG.

“Upon profiling, the returnees consisted of 71 female adults, 17 female children and six female infants. There were also 55 male adults 13 male children and two male infants.

“Among them were three returnees with medical cases and a pregnant woman who was in labour upon arrival in Nigeria.”

He advised the returnees to remain focused on starting a positive life with the abundant resources available within Nigeria instead of seeking the elusive greener pastures outside the country.

He said though it was their right to seek better livelihood outside the country, they must, however, ensure to follow processes that would not endanger their lives.