“Almost all the migrants travelling on this charter were detained as they were trying to cross to Europe,” IOM said in a statement.

“One hundred and forty-two had spent months in immigration detention centres,” it said.

According to the organization, the flight that brought the migrants home was organised with the Tripoli authorities and the Nigerian embassy. And their confiscated personal belongings, which included mobile phones were handed back to them before boarding.

READ: Nigerian refugee beaten and pushed by Syrian migrants after he tried to board their boat (See Pictures)

For years, many migrants and refugees have used Libya as their stepping stone to crossing over to Europe, where they seek greener pastures.

Despite many of them losing their lives in the sea journey to Europe, tons still flood the North African nation. At least  97 migrants and refugees have reportedly died trying in 2016 alone.