The International Organisation on Migration (IOM) Nigeria, on the weekend, said Edo State has dropped from top of the chart of irregular migration returnees to third, while Kano and Lagos come 1st and 2nd respectively.

Sharon Dimanche, Chief of Mission at IOM Nigeria, disclosed this in Benin during an interactive session with newsmen on IOM Nigeria’s activities in the country, with a particular focus on Edo State.

According to the Chief of Mission, as of 2017, Edo was at the top of the list of irregular migration returnees, but due to increased awareness campaigns about the dangers of irregular migration, the state has dropped to number 3 on the chart.

Dimanche, who disclosed that with the help of IOM, over 60, 000 migrants have returned and assisted in Nigeria, said out of the number, over 9,000 returnees are from Edo.

She said: “Edo was number 1 in the returnees record, but as we speak, the state has dropped to number 3. This can be attributed to the increase in awareness campaigns by IOM and its partners.”

The Chief of Mission continued: “Since 2017, over 9,000 migrants from Edo have been supported to return home safely, and more than 8,000 have received reintegration support to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

“We have also assisted over 1,100 victims of trafficking, and more than 5,000 people have received psychosocial support to help them recover from trauma.”

Speaking on Nigeria at large, the Chief of Mission said: “More than 60,300 migrants have returned with IOM’s assistance since 2017, many of them survivors of exploitation and abuse along dangerous migration routes.”

Dimanche, while noting the figures show progress, reiterated IOM Nigeria’s commitment to saving lives when people are in crisis.

The Chief Mission, who lamented that Nigeria plays host to over 3m internally displaced persons, called for a collaboration amongst governments, communities, international organisations, donors, and the private sector, in order to save lives.

The Chief of Mission, while commending the “leadership of the state government, young people, for the energy and resilience,” identified funding as one of the major limitations to IOM Nigeria in carrying out its core mandate.

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(The Guardian)