Confirming the deportees' arrival, who are all male, spokesman for the Lagos airport police command, Joseph Alabi, said  39 of the deportees allegedly committed immigration-related offenses while one of them was allegedly involved in drug dealing.

Alabi said they were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) , the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the police.

Also on ground to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

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The deportees were profiled by immigration authorities while those without serious charges were allowed to depart to their various destinations.

The latest deportation makes it the third time the Italian government has expelled Nigerians in less than two months.

On February 23, 33 Nigerians were deported,  and on March 8, 37 were expelled.