The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says it has rescued more than 65,500 stranded Nigerian migrants in the past nine years, highlighting the scale of irregular migration challenges facing the country. 

A representative of the agency, speaking at a migration reporting workshop in Lagos, revealed that over 30,000 returnees have also received psychological, social, and economic support to help rebuild their lives.

The IOM disclosed that it is intensifying efforts to promote safe and legal migration pathways, while urging greater public awareness and responsible media coverage of migration issues.

“We’ll have more on the numbers, the human stories, and what is being done to curb dangerous migration routes”, it said in a follow-up statement.

The development followed a growing crackdown on illegal immigrants in countries around the world.