The Italian government has deported 40 Nigerians for drug and other offences in the country.
This is coming less than a month after 37 Nigerians were deported from the country on March 8.
On February 22, another set of 33 Nigerians was also deported from the European country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the latest deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on Tuesday night.
The deportees, who are all male, were brought back in a chartered aircraft with registration number EL-SMU/3737.
Joseph Alabi, the spokesperson of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development, saying 39 of the deportees were alleged to have committed immigration-related offences while one of them was allegedly involved in drug dealing.
Mr. Alabi, a deputy superintendent of police, said the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, and the Police.
Also on ground to receive them were officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
NAN gathered that the deportees were profiled by immigration authorities while those without serious charges were allowed to depart to their various destinations.
Thousands of Nigerians travel to Italy annually via Libya and the Mediterranean seeking greener pastures.
While some of the travelers make it to Italy where they are treated as refugees, many are trapped in Libya while some others die while crossing the Mediterranean.
