Twenty-four Gambians last Friday returned to the country from Libya. Ensa Jawara, the public relations officer of the Gambia Immigration Department, told the Daily Observer that the returnees came through a flight from Libya to Senegal, from where they took a bus to The Gambia. They were received at the Amdali Border Post by Gambian officials.

"The returnees came from different regions, one is from Banjul, seven from KMC, two from West Coast Region, three from Lower River Region, two from North Bank Region and nine from Upper River Region," he disclosed.

The Immigration spokesperson further disclosed that the return of the Gambians was facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), together with the Gambian government through the Gambia Immigration Department under the Ministry of Interior. "The Gambian government is concerned about the safety of the citizens. We have no problem with people traveling but it should be genuine," he stressed.

He then made it clear that whoever wants to travel illegally will be prevented from doing so, as Libya is in crisis at the moment. Jawara finally urged Gambians and non-Gambians to support the government in its fight against illegal migration.