By Abdul Jonah
The federal government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has evacuated 1,230 stranded Nigerians from Niger, a neighbouring country.
A statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the returnees were transported in two batches. “The first group of 708 individuals arrived on March 23, 2026, while the second batch of 522 individuals arrived on March 29, 2026,” the statement said.
The ministry said it worked closely with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), “whose logistical and technical support proved invaluable in ensuring the smooth execution of the exercise.”
Upon their arrival in Kano, the returnees were received by a multi-agency team comprising officials from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Also present were representatives from the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Department of State Services (DSS), alongside officials of the Kano and Katsina State Governments.
The Lantern News learnt that following arrival procedures, the returnees underwent a profiling exercise at the airport to ensure proper documentation and to facilitate subsequent reintegration measures. They were thereafter transported to the Immigration Training School, Kano (ITSK), where temporary accommodation was provided. During their stay, the returnees received essential support, including meals, sanitary supplies, and basic medical attention where necessary.
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