BREAKING: Italy deports 40 Nigerians

- Italian government has deported 40 Nigerians

- The deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 8:25pm

- One of the deportees was returned based on his involvement in drug related matters

The Italian government on Tuesday April 4, deported 40 Nigerians for immigration and criminal offences.

Nigerian deportees arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

Punch reports that the deportees, comprising males and females arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 8:25pm aboard an Air Meridiana aircraft with registration number E1-FNU.

the deportation is coming few days after the repatriation of 23 Nigerians for similar offences, from the United Kingdom.

An immigration source said 39 of the deportees were returned because of immigration offences while one, a male was returned because of his involvement in drug related matters.

The source added that the returnee with drug-related issue would be handed over to police for further prosecution while others who were profiled by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service would be assisted home.

Sahara Reporters had earlier reported that the Italian government would deport at least 40 Nigerians back into the country over immigration offenses.

The online medium said that the deportees would arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday night.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the president on diaspora affairs

Some of the deportees, according to Sahara Reporters, entered Italy illegally while others entered the country with visiting visas but stayed past their expiration dates“A source close to the Department of State Security attached to the Lagos airport said that some of the impending deportees also committed criminal offenses in their host country and would immediately be handed over to the police on arrival.”

It would be recalled that 23 Nigerians were repatriated from the United Kingdom Friday March 31 over similar offenses.