The National Emergency Management Agency has received 708 stranded Nigerians evacuated from Niamey, marking another large-scale repatriation effort by the Federal Government.
The returnees arrived on Monday at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, where they were received and profiled by officials.
Speaking to journalists, the Head of Operations at NEMA Kano Office, Nura Abdullahi, confirmed that the evacuees were transported in 12 buses and arrived at about 4:08 pm, after which physical verification commenced.
According to him, the group consisted of 292 male adults and children and 416 female adults and children from various states, including Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Benue, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, and Niger State.
Abdullahi explained that the evacuation was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with immediate support provided to the returnees upon arrival.
“They have also been given blankets, mosquito nets and dignity kits containing toiletries, wrappers, sanitary pads and other essentials.
“By tomorrow morning, after necessary profiling, they will be transported to their respective states,” he said.
He added that medical personnel from the Nigeria Red Cross were present to attend to the sick, while critical cases would be referred to appropriate health facilities.
He also urged Nigerians, especially youths, to avoid risky migration in search of better opportunities abroad.
Also speaking, the Kano Field Coordinator of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Luba Liman, described the evacuation as a “whole-of-government approach.”
She noted that the exercise was facilitated through collaboration between the Federal Government, the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This is a voluntary return. Many of them could not afford to come back on their own, so the government arranged for their evacuation,” she said.
Some of the returnees shared emotional accounts of their experiences. One of them, Malam Kamalu Abdullahi from Kaduna State, said he had lived in Niamey for 12 years before violence forced him to flee.
“I woke up one morning, hearing people shouting ‘fire, fire’. My house and those of other Nigerians were set ablaze. When I came out, I was attacked and told to leave the country,” he recounted.
He praised the Federal Government for facilitating their return, adding that he would not consider going back to Niger.
Another returnee, Rabi’a Inusa from Jigawa State, said she travelled to Niamey with her children due to family challenges but ended up facing severe hardship.
“My husband in Nigeria sold our house and threw my belongings on the street. I decided to travel to Algeria to seek greener pastures to rent a house in Nigeria and provide for my children.
“I was sleeping on the streets. I was directed to a camp for voluntary returnees. I spent over N100,000 on transport when I was travelling to Niamey and returned home with nothing,” she said.
Many of the returnees, mostly women and children, appeared distressed upon arrival, highlighting the harsh conditions they endured abroad.
Officials from NEMA, NCFRMI, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other stakeholders were present to receive and support the evacuees.
What you should know
The return of 708 Nigerians from Niger highlights the growing risks associated with irregular migration across West Africa.
Many migrants face harsh living conditions, violence, and financial loss while seeking better opportunities abroad. The government’s intervention underscores ongoing efforts to protect citizens and provide humanitarian assistance.
This development also serves as a warning about the dangers of undocumented travel, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children.
