By Erewunmi Peace

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 497 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Niger Republic following a voluntary return exercise coordinated with international migration agencies.

The returnees arrived at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, where officials of NEMA and other agencies received them for documentation and support.

According to the agency, many of the returnees were migrants attempting to travel through Niger Republic toward Libya and other North African countries in search of better economic opportunities.

Some of the returnees narrated difficult experiences during the journey, including hunger, dehydration, exploitation, and insecurity in desert areas along migration routes.

NEMA stated that the repatriation exercise was carried out in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and relevant government authorities.

The agency also noted that the returnees would receive humanitarian assistance and reintegration support to help them settle back into society.

Officials warned Nigerians against engaging in irregular migration, stressing the dangers associated with illegal routes across the Sahara Desert and North Africa.

The development has renewed calls for increased public awareness on the risks of unsafe migration and the need for youth empowerment opportunities within the country.