The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has received 497 Nigerian migrants evacuated from Niger Republic through the Jibia border, following a coordinated humanitarian operation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
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The returnees arrived at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, coming from Agadez, Niger Republic. They were received by officials from the commission’s Kano Field Office alongside other relevant government agencies.
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Key details of the evacuation
Federal Commissioner Dr. Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, speaking during the reception ceremony, said the evacuation was part of the Federal Government’s humanitarian effort in collaboration with IOM. The migrants were evacuated under IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return programme.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular and Migration Affairs Division, had notified the commission of the planned evacuation of stranded Nigerian migrants from Agadez scheduled between May 22–25, 2026. The exercise is being conducted in two batches.
The first batch, initially projected to comprise about 600 returnees, arrived with a total of 497 persons.
Agencies involved
The reception was coordinated by NCFRMI in collaboration with multiple agencies including:
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National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
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National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
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Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
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Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
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National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
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Department of State Services (DSS)
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SEMA
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Nigerian Red Cross Society
Support for returnees
The returnees underwent documentation processes, including MIDAS registration by the Nigeria Immigration Service, before being moved to the Immigration Training School in Kano for feeding, profiling and other humanitarian support services.
Breakdown of returnees
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Adult males: 174
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Adult females: 97
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Boys: 137
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Girls: 89
This brings the total to 497 migrants across all age and gender groups.
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