1,100 Nigerian Migrants Return Home From Niger Republic Through Kano
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More than 1,100 Nigerian migrants have arrived in Kano State from Agadez in Niger Republic through a coordinated return operation involving immigration and humanitarian agencies.
Officials confirmed that the returnees entered Nigeria by road and are currently undergoing documentation, profiling and support procedures before being reunited with their families and communities.
The Nigeria Immigration Service disclosed that several federal and state agencies have been deployed to manage the process and ensure the safe reception of the migrants. Authorities said the operation includes identity verification, health assessments, counselling and reintegration support.
According to immigration officials in Kano, the migrants are first processed through designated reception centres where their personal details are captured using migration data systems. After documentation, they are transferred to another facility for further profiling, psychosocial assistance and reintegration planning.
The agencies involved in the exercise include the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the International Organization for Migration and state government representatives.
Agadez, located in northern Niger Republic, has long served as a major transit point for African migrants attempting to travel through Libya and across the Mediterranean into Europe. Over the years, thousands of migrants from West African countries, including Nigeria, have passed through the route in search of better economic opportunities abroad.
Migration along the corridor reduced after Niger introduced stricter anti-smuggling measures several years ago. However, reports indicate that irregular movement through the region has continued despite tighter controls and changing security conditions in the Sahel.
Recent political instability in Niger, including the 2023 military coup, has also affected migration management efforts in the region. Humanitarian organisations have continued to monitor renewed migrant movements and assist stranded individuals seeking voluntary return to their home countries.
International migration agencies estimate that many of the Nigerians returning from the Agadez route are young people who became stranded during attempts to reach Europe due to financial hardship, detention or the collapse of smuggling networks operating across the desert corridor.
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