Libyan officials have confirmed the deportation of 80 Nigerian migrants who were previously detained in various facilities throughout the country. This action is framed by the authorities as a step in the continuous drive to manage irregular migration and alleviate congestion within the overcrowded holding centers.
The repatriation exercise took place on Wednesday, the 12th of November, 2025, through Mitiga International Airport. It was carried out through collaboration between the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) and the Nigerian Consulate located in Tripoli.
According to Migrant Rescue Watch, an organization dedicated to monitoring migrant welfare and human rights in Libya, the deportation followed judicial mandates issued by the Libyan Judicial Police. The group confirmed that: “The affected Nigerians were previously detained in multiple facilities across the country and later transferred to Tripoli under strict security for their scheduled return flight.”
The organization further stated that Nigerian consular officials were involved in the operation to ensure that returnees received proper documentation and consular support prior to their departure.
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These 80 deported Nigerians are a fraction of the hundreds of African migrants currently in Libyan custody, all of whom were intercepted while attempting to use irregular routes across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.
Libya remains a critical staging ground for migrants escaping conflict, instability, and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa as they pursue better prospects in Europe.
However, the human rights situation for these migrants remains precarious. Rights groups have consistently voiced strong concerns about poor detention conditions, overcrowding, and abuse inside Libya’s detention centers, urging both African and European governments to establish safer migration routes and address the foundational causes driving irregular movement.