Libya Deports 80 Nigerians Amid Renewed Crackdown on Irregular Migration

Libya has deported 80 Nigerian nationals detained in various detention centres across the country, as part of a renewed effort by the North African nation to curb illegal migration and decongest overcrowded holding facilities.

According to Libyan authorities, the exercise was carried out on Wednesday through Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, under the coordination of the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) and with active support from officials of the Nigerian Consulate.

The returnees, comprising mostly women had been held in multiple detention facilities for immigration-related offences.

Officials said the deportation followed directives from the Libyan Public Prosecutor’s Office, which issued judicial orders mandating the removal of undocumented migrants from the country. The affected individuals were subsequently transferred to DCIM custody in preparation for repatriation to Nigeria.

A migration monitoring group, Migrant Rescue Watch, confirmed the development, noting that the deportees had undergone judicial processing before their removal. The group also highlighted that the operation was part of broader efforts by the Libyan government to address both legal and humanitarian challenges associated with irregular migration.

Over the years, Libya has remained a major transit hub for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking to reach Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. However, the nation’s detention facilities have come under international criticism for alleged human rights abuses, overcrowding, and poor living conditions.

In response, Libyan authorities have increased collaboration with foreign missions and international organizations to facilitate the voluntary and judicial repatriation of migrants. The recent deportation of Nigerians adds to a growing list of similar operations conducted in recent months involving nationals from other African countries.

Diplomatic sources revealed that the Nigerian Consulate in Tripoli has been working closely with Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to ensure the safe and dignified return of citizens stranded in the country.

The Nigerian government has yet to release an official statement regarding the latest batch of deportees, but previous repatriation efforts have often included reintegration support for returnees under IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme.

As Libya continues its crackdown on undocumented migration, thousands of African migrants, many of them Nigerians, remain in detention or await evacuation, underscoring the persistent migration crisis in the region.