The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says 179 Nigerian migrants stranded in crisis-hit Sudan have safely returned home following an assisted voluntary evacuation it coordinated.

Elijah Elaigwu, senior communication assistant of IOM, disclosed this on Thursday through a statement made available to journalists in Benin.

The migrants arrived at Kano’s Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday from Port Sudan under the European Union-backed Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme.

Mr Elaigwu said the return marked the first organised repatriation of Nigerian migrants from Sudan in 2026 and the fourth since 2025.

According to him, many of the returnees had been trapped in the ongoing conflict in Sudan where they faced food shortages, limited access to healthcare and rising protection risks.

“These are people who have lived through months of fear and uncertainty, unsure of when or how they would make it home,” Refaat Mohamed, IOM Chief 

of Mission in Port Sudan was quoted as saying.

“Getting them back safely is not just about transport. It is about dignity. It is about making sure that, even in a crisis, people are treated as human beings first.”

Mr Elaigwu explained that before departure, IOM provided medical screening, psychosocial support, travel documentation and transportation to ensure the return process was voluntary, safe and dignified.

The EU, he said, also emphasised the importance of protecting migrants caught in conflict situations.

“This return is about restoring a sense of safety and control to people whose lives were disrupted by the crisis,” Gautier Mignot, the European Union ambassador to Nigeria was quoted as saying.

“Our support is driven by the belief that no one should be left stranded without options, especially in situations of conflict.”

On arrival in Nigeria, Mr Elaigwu said the returnees were received by IOM Nigeria.

He said the reception was done in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and other partners.

He said immediate assistance provided to the migrants included health checks, psychosocial support, temporary accommodation and onward transportation to their communities.

Sharon Dimanche, IOM Chief of Mission to Nigeria, was quoted as saying that reintegration support would help the returnees rebuild their lives.

“Coming home is only the first step. What matters just as much is what happens next.

“Our focus is on helping returnees regain their footing, rebuild their lives and move forward with dignity and hope. That is where reintegration really begins,” she said.

Mr Elaigwu noted that the operation was conducted in coordination with the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan and Sudanese Passport and Immigration authorities under the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA).

He added that since the outbreak of the Sudan crisis, IOM has intensified emergency assistance for stranded migrants, helping more than 1,800 Nigerians through evacuation, protection services and voluntary return programmes.

He said the European Union remains IOM Nigeria’s largest donor, supporting life-saving interventions and long-term reintegration assistance for vulnerable migrants across the country. 

(NAN)