by Azeez Adeniyi

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

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

They were transported by an Air Meridiana aircraft with registration number E1-FNU.

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.

He said the returnee with drug-related of fence will be handed over to the police for further prosecution.

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

Azeez