Libya has released 161 Nigerian refugees back to their country in a voluntary repatriation scheme.

The repatriation process was facilitated by the United Nations program that aims at minimizing the number of irregular migration in North Africa.

Reliable reports indicated that the group of Nigerians comprised six children while women were almost half of the total number of refugees.

The Nigerians were assisted at an airport in Tripoli by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) as they embarked on a flight to Lagos.

They landed safely in Lagos, Nigeria on Monday night.

About 102 Nigerians were intercepted at the border of Libya and Tunia, on their way to Europe.

Other Nigerian nationals were rescued from prisons across Libya, as they were assisted by government in the repatriation program.