Over 100 Nigerian Women, Children Repatriated From Libya

The Libya Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has repatriated more than 100 Nigerian women and children via Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by Migrant Rescue Watch on its X handle.

"DCIM (Western Region) repatriated with IOM support over 100 #migrant women with children of Nigerian nationality via Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli," it said.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that at least 37 Nigerians had been arrested for their involvement in an international criminal network that spanned from Nigeria to Libya.

The suspects were accused of engaging in witchcraft and sorcery, facilitating illegal immigration, and orchestrating a range of criminal activities including kidnapping, drug trafficking, and theft.

The Public Prosecution announced the dismantling of these criminal gangs and disclosed that intelligence reports had flagged a meeting of irregular migrants who were coordinating illicit operations across five notorious organisations: "High Viking," "EMSI," "Eye," "Black Axe," and the "New Black Movement in Africa."

In a recent statement, the Libyan Attorney General's Office disclosed on the Facebook page the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to infiltrate the networks, highlighting the serious implications of these activities for both national and regional security.

However, it was stated that the suspects carried out activities typical of criminal gangs inside Libya.

The prosecution concluded that 35 illegal immigrants were linked to these groups, which are based in Nigeria and serve as centres for managing their operations.