Irregular Migration: Libya Deports 80 Nigerians

Libya Deports 80 Nigerians over Irregular Migration.
Deportation was coordinated with Nigeria’s consulate in Tripoli.
Authorities aim to decongest detention centres amid global criticism.

Libyan authorities have deported 80 Nigerian migrants as part of ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration and decongest overcrowded detention centres across the country.

The operation was coordinated by the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) in partnership with the Nigerian Consulate in Tripoli and carried out on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, via Mitiga International Airport.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to Migrant Rescue Watch, a human rights organisation monitoring migrant welfare in Libya, the deportation followed judicial orders issued by the Libyan Judicial Police.

“The affected Nigerians were previously held in several detention facilities across the country and were later transferred to Tripoli under strict security arrangements for their return flight,” the organisation confirmed.

The group added that Nigerian consular officials worked closely with Libyan authorities to ensure proper documentation and consular assistance for the deported migrants before departure.

The 80 Nigerians were among hundreds of African migrants currently detained in Libya for attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe through irregular routes.

Libya remains one of the main transit points for migrants escaping poverty, insecurity, and political instability across sub-Saharan Africa in search of better living conditions.

Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the state of Libya’s detention centres, citing severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, and frequent reports of abuse and exploitation.

These organisations have called on African and European governments to develop safer migration policies and address the root causes that push people into dangerous routes.

They also warned that repeated mass deportations, without resolving underlying socio-economic challenges, could lead to a continuous cycle of unsafe migration attempts.

Irregular Migration: Libya Deports 80 Nigerians

The latest deportation comes amid renewed international pressure on Libyan authorities to reform migrant detention practices and improve humanitarian conditions in holding facilities.

Nigeria and Libya continue to engage diplomatically to facilitate the safe return and reintegration of stranded Nigerian migrants