TRIPOLI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A group of 159 illegal migrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to their home country Nigeria this week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday.

The migrants "safely returned home from Benghazi to Lagos this week through IOM's VHR program with support from EU funding," the IOM said on social media platform X, referring to its Voluntary Humanitarian Return and Reintegration program that supports migrants to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.

"With thanks to our donors the EU, Italy, Norway, and Denmark, in 2024 alone, over 16,207 migrants received vital support to return to their countries of origin," it said.

Due to the ensuing insecurity and chaos after the downfall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a preferred departure point for many migrants, primarily from Africa, who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.

So far this year, 3,855 migrants were intercepted at sea and returned to Libya, while 75 migrants died on the Central Mediterranean route, according to IOM.

Libyan Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi warned recently that Libya may resort to forced deportations if the international community fails to support voluntary return programs. Enditem

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