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Irregular migration: Over 1,200 Nigerians died in seven months

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No fewer than 1,200 Nigerians have died while trying to migrate through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in the year 2023 alone, the Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Ekiti State Command, Ademola Abdulrashed, has said.

The NIS boss  who agreed that Nigerians could travel abroad for reasons best known to them, advised that such migration must be safe and orderly.

Abdulrashed, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday during the grand finale of the three-day celebration of the 60th anniversary of NIS, with the theme, ‘Enhancing seamless regular migration’, said, “This Japa syndrome is a big challenge to those travelling illegal ports of exit in the quest for greener pasture”.

He lamented that “many of our youths die in the Sahara Desert, Mediterranean Sea and so on which does not worth it. From available data from International Organisation for Migration, at least 1,200 Nigerians have died while trying to migrate through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in the year 2023 alone.

“For those who survive, the dream of reaching their desired destination quickly becomes a mirage. Some spend several months, even years in cells abroad for irregular migration, while some are taken hostage by pirates who rob, maim, and sometimes rape the female japaists.

“From the foregoing, Nigerians willing to Japa are advised to reach out to any of our offices nationwide for necessary information and guidelines to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration.”

The Comptroller said that NIS had in the last 60 years gone through a series of transformations taking the country from the analogue years to the digital era.

Abdulrashed added that “NIS has achieved a lot within these years in different areas of operations ranging from issuance of travel documents such as (passport, visa and residence permit), border management, migration management, national security, and several others”.


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Nigerian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somali migrants, others massively repatriated by Libya

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Libyan authorities, during the week embarked on massive repatriation of immigrants.

Nigerian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somali  migrants are among the nationalities sent back home from the North African country.

Moroccan, Bangladeshi and Ghanaian migrants were also repatriated.

According to Migrant Rescue Watch, “DCIM repatriated with IOM support over 150 #migrants, mainly women with children of Nigerian nationality via Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli.”

In another operation, Migrant Rescue Watch said “DCIM transferred from Ajdabiya Immigration Detention Center via Sirte to Tripoli 90 #migrants including  women of Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somali nationalities for completion of procedures and repatriation.

This was followed by the repatriation of Moroccans whom DCIM repatriated from East Tripoli Immigration Detention Center 5.  “The individuals were interdicted by the Libyan Coast Guard during an attempted illegal boat crossing,” Migrant Rescue Watch said, adding,  “DCIM with consular and IOM support repatriated via Mitiga Int. Airport in Tripoli 159 #migrants of Bangladeshi nationality. The group incl. 58 #migrants released from DCIM Immigration Detention Centers East Tripoli (Tajoura) and Tariq Mata.”

The return of Ghanaian migrants was announced by  IOM Ghana on its Xhandle and retweeted by Migrant Rescue Watch.

The tweet reads: “This week, IOM welcomed home 134 Ghanaian migrants who voluntarily returned from Libya via charter flight. Coinciding with the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), they received information on GBV, resources for support & reporting, & psychological first aid.”

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Thirty two rescued people stuck aboard in Palermo as SeaWatch5 disembark vulnerable cases

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Thirty two rescued people remained stuck aboard in Palermo as SeaWatch5 disembarked vulnerable cases.

Sea Watch International disclosed this as it said that
the #SeaWatch5 has docked in Palermo so that medical assistance can be provided to some of the rescued people and for the disembarkation of minors ordered by the competent court.

It said “All rescued people should be allowed to disembark after reaching a safe port, not being forced on an exhausting and useless 4-day journey to the assigned port of Ravenna. Partial disembarkation is inhumane and discriminatory. Get all the people ashore now.”

Few hours after the above message was shared, Sea Watch said that #SeaWatch5 disembarked vulnerable cases as ordered by the court. “Yet 32 rescued people remain stuck aboard in Palermo. Forcing these persons to sail another 1,000+ km to Ravenna is reckless, racist, illegal, and endangers lives. We brought them to safety—now let them stay.”

Giving an update:, it said: “Resistance works – all guests are allowed to disembark!

“We’re relieved but also angry: the political power plays at the expense of people on the move are cynical and inhumane.
We wish all our guests strength in their ongoing fight against Fortress Europe!”

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OceanViking rescues 48 people from overcrowded rubber boat

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OceanViking has rescued 48 people from an overcrowded rubber boat.

SOS Mediterranee disclosed on its X handle.

It said: “Yesterday, following a VHF radio message from a NATO aircraft, #OceanViking rescued 48 people from an overcrowded rubber boat in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. 90% of the survivors are unaccompanied minors.”

Towards the end of the rescue operation, SOS Mediterranee said the Libyan coast guards approached the scene at full speed, dangerously maneuvering. “Despite the unnecessary tension, @SOSMedIntl teams managed to bring everyone safely onboard Ocean Viking. Survivors are now resting inside the shelters.”

It added that authorities instructed Ravenna as Place of Safety, 1575 km away. This implies a 4-day navigation to reach it &4 days to be back to the area of operations, where we are most needed. SOS Mediterranee regretted that :”This distant port practice is emptying the Med of rescue assets and adding on to survivors’ suffering.”

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