226 young people have arrived in The Gambia from Libya yesterday, Wednesday, 21 November 2012, and were received at the border post at Kerr Ayib and later taken to the Farafenni Youth Center for medical check-up.

Speaking to the press shortly after the arrival of the young people, the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) Public Relation Officer (PRO) Superintendent Ensa Jawara said this group of young people left the country for Libya and have now returned.

PRO Jawara disclosed that the return of these young people was facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Gambia Immigration Department under the Ministry of the Interior. He said they started their journey back home since on the 18 November 2012.

The Immigration PRO said these young people were not deported but they are returnees who want to come back to their home safely. He said the 226 returnees filled four different buses in their journey back to the Gambia and were received at the border by the Governor of North Bank Region and officers of the Immigration Department.

According to Superintendent Jawara, among these 226 returnees, 7 are from Banjul, 35 from Kanifing Municipality, 43 from West Coast Region, 20 from Lower River Region, 28 from Central River Region, 44 North Bank Region and 49 from Upper River Region.

He also took the opportunity to advise the young people who use money to venture in this type of journeys to instead invest it other productive areas.

The Immigration PRO said his department under the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Youth and Sports are working hand in hand to ensure that these illegal journeys are reduced .

Superintendent Jawara finally called on the religions leaders to explain the dangers of illegal immigration in their sermons to discourage young people.