Libya has deported 80 undocumented Nigerian nationals in a renewed effort to manage irregular migration and reduce overcrowding in detention centres, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The deportations, carried out through a coordinated operation between Libya’s Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) and the Nigerian Consulate in Tripoli, took place via Mitiga International Airport in the capital. The move comes as the North African nation intensifies its crackdown on undocumented migrants and strengthens cooperation with sub-Saharan African governments to repatriate nationals held in its facilities.
Humanitarian monitoring organisation Migrant Rescue Watch confirmed the development, stating that the repatriations followed judicial directives from Libya’s Public Prosecutor’s Office. The group reported that several of the migrants had been transferred from Judicial Police custody to DCIM facilities before being deported.
“Judicial Police Dept., on orders of Public Prosecutor’s Office, transferred a group of undocumented migrant females of Nigerian nationality to DCIM custody in Tripoli. All females were served with judicial deportation order and are awaiting deportation,” the group posted on X (formerly Twitter) before later confirming that the process had been completed.
“DCIM, with Nigerian consular support, repatriated 80 migrants of Nigerian nationality via Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli. The group included migrants transferred by the Judicial Police who were served with judicial deportation order,” the statement added.
The latest deportation is part of Libya’s ongoing effort to curb irregular migration through its territory, which remains a major transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe via the Central Mediterranean. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has repeatedly described this corridor as one of the deadliest migration routes in the world, with thousands losing their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea each year.
According to IOM data, more than 130,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea so far this year, with nearly 70 percent departing from Libya or neighbouring Tunisia. Many of these migrants are from Nigeria, Niger, Sudan, and other West African countries affected by conflict and economic hardship.
Libya’s Interior Ministry and DCIM have launched several repatriation operations in coordination with foreign embassies and international organisations, including the IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme. However, rights groups have criticised Libya’s detention practices, citing reports of overcrowding, abuse, and arbitrary detention in facilities holding thousands of migrants.
In a recent statement, IOM called for improved humanitarian access and long-term migration management policies, stressing that “forced returns without adequate safeguards” could expose deportees to renewed risks upon arrival in their home countries.
Nigeria’s Consulate in Tripoli has been actively involved in facilitating the safe repatriation of its nationals, providing documentation, and ensuring coordination with Libyan authorities. Nigerian officials say the government continues to engage in discussions with Libya and other North African states to ensure the humane treatment of citizens detained for irregular migration.
For Libya, the deportations form part of a broader strategy to restore order in its migration system and ease pressure on detention facilities. The country, which has been struggling with internal divisions and political instability since 2011, remains a major hub for human smuggling networks that exploit migrants attempting to cross to Europe.
Officials in Tripoli say the government’s focus is now on tightening border control, dismantling trafficking networks, and expanding diplomatic cooperation with sub-Saharan African countries to facilitate repatriations. “These actions are necessary to address the humanitarian crisis caused by overcrowded detention centres and to maintain security across migration routes,” a DCIM spokesperson said.
The latest operation underscores a growing regional trend, as several African countries intensify efforts to manage irregular migration flows amid worsening economic and political conditions. From Niger’s crackdown on smuggling networks to Tunisia’s heightened border controls, governments are increasingly adopting tougher measures — often under pressure from European partners — to contain migration.
Analysts note that while deportations and stricter enforcement may reduce short-term numbers, they do little to address the root causes driving migration: poverty, insecurity, and lack of opportunities across parts of West and Central Africa.
“Unless these underlying issues are resolved, the migration flow through Libya and other transit countries will continue,” said an IOM regional analyst based in Tunis. “What we are seeing now is a symptom of a larger structural problem that demands a coordinated African and international response.”
As of November 2025, Libya hosts tens of thousands of migrants and refugees, many living in precarious conditions or detained in facilities run by both state and non-state actors. International agencies continue to call for a shift from detention to community-based alternatives and for enhanced protection mechanisms for migrants at risk.
For the 80 Nigerians deported this week, their return marks an uncertain homecoming amid ongoing economic challenges in their country. Yet, for Libyan authorities, the repatriations represent another step in an increasingly assertive migration policy aimed at reducing illegal stays and asserting control over its fragmented territory.
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