The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) recently facilitated the return of 708 Nigerians who had been stranded in Niamey, Niger Republic. The group arrived at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on Monday afternoon, marking the end of a difficult journey for many who had left home in search of better opportunities.
The returnees were transported in a fleet of 12 luxury buses, arriving around 4:08 pm to begin the necessary physical verification and profiling. The group was diverse, consisting of 292 males and 416 females, including many children. These individuals hail from various states across the country, with many originating from Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Benue, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, and Niger State.
Dr. Nura Abdullahi, the Head of Operations for the NEMA Kano Office, confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spearheaded the effort to bring the citizens home. Upon arrival, the returnees were provided with meals and temporary shelter. They also received essential supplies, including blankets, mosquito nets, and dignity kits containing toiletries and other sanitary items to help restore a sense of normalcy after their ordeal.
Medical teams from the Nigerian Red Cross were on-site to attend to those who were unwell, with plans to refer more serious cases to state health facilities. Dr. Abdullahi used the opportunity to urge young Nigerians to be cautious about embarking on dangerous journeys abroad in the hope of finding “greener pastures,” as these paths often lead to extreme hardship and risk.
The evacuation was described as a collaborative government effort, involving the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). Hajiya Luba Liman, the Kano Field Coordinator for the NCFRMI, noted that the return was voluntary, as many of those stranded simply lacked the financial means to return home on their own.
The stories shared by the returnees paint a vivid picture of the challenges they faced. Malam Kamalu Abdullahi, a native of Kaduna State who had lived in Niamey for over a decade, described a sudden outbreak of violence that forced him to flee. He recounted waking up to the sounds of his home being set on fire and being told to leave the country under the threat of attack. He expressed profound gratitude for the government’s intervention, stating that he has no intention of returning to Niger.
Similarly, Rabi’a Inusa from Jigawa shared a heart-wrenching account of how family domestic issues and financial desperation led her to travel toward Algeria with two of her children. After spending months sleeping on the streets and exhausting her savings, she sought help at a camp for voluntary returnees. Like many others who arrived looking distressed and weary, her primary focus now is rebuilding her life on home soil.
Key stakeholders, including the Kano SEMA Executive Secretary, Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi-Kubarachi, and officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service, were present to ensure the smooth reception of the group. Following the completion of their profiling, the returnees are expected to be transported back to their respective home states to reunite with their families.
