Germany deported at least 137 Nigerian citizens in five documented chartered operations between February and June 2026, according to figures contained in reports monitored by the DERS Team and Refugees4refugees.org.
The deportations involved a series of charter flights from Germany and other European countries, with some of the operations conducted jointly with other European Union member states.
The figures show that 27 Nigerians were deported in February, 37 directly by Germany as part of a 50-person joint European operation in March, while 24, 23 and 26 Nigerians were returned in April, May and June respectively.
The five documented operations bring the total number of Nigerians returned to the country during the period to 137.
On February 18, 2026, 27 Nigerians arrived at the Lagos Cargo Airport following a deportation operation from Germany.
According to Refugees4refugees.org, the flight was operated by World2fly and departed from Stuttgart before arriving in Lagos shortly before 2pm.
The report said the operation was primarily carried out by Germany, while one severely ill person described as mentally unfit was transferred from Slovakia to join the 26 people deported from Germany.
Baden-Württemberg was identified as a major participant in the operation, with Stuttgart having hosted both the December 2025 and February 2026 deportation flights to Nigeria.
The report also raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding some of the deportations, alleging that some of those returned had serious health conditions while others had lived and worked in Germany for several years.
It cited the case of a single mother and her three children who were deported from the Sindelfingen district of Stuttgart despite reportedly possessing documents relating to their residence status.
According to the report, the family later returned to Germany following the intervention of a volunteer and confirmation from local foreign authorities that their deportation had been carried out in error.
The February operation also coincided with Nigeria’s participation in preparations for the Voluntary National Review of the Global Compact for Migration ahead of the 2026 International Migration Review Forum in New York.
The DERS Team reportedly said Nigerian government agencies did not send representatives to receive the deportees at the airport. It further alleged that the returning Nigerians were transported away from the airport without adequate assistance.
March Operation
On March 10, another 50 people were deported to Nigeria in a joint European Union operation hosted by Germany.
The operation involved Germany, Spain, Austria and Belgium, with Germany accounting for 37 of the deportations, according to the figures contained in the reports.
The operation was described as the largest single deportation involving Nigerians among the operations covered in the three-year period referenced by the report.
More Deportations In April, May
A further 24 Nigerians, including women and a minor, were returned to Nigeria on April 9 aboard a chartered flight from Frankfurt.
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The flight was reportedly organised through Frontex and German authorities as part of the enforcement of migration decisions.
In May, another 23 Nigerians were deported to the country, while a further 26 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 17 following another chartered deportation flight.
The five operations recorded between February and June therefore resulted in at least 137 Nigerians being returned to Nigeria.
The development highlights the continued use of organised charter flights by European authorities to enforce migration decisions involving Nigerian nationals.
However, migration rights advocates have continued to raise concerns about the treatment of vulnerable migrants during deportation operations.
They have called for stronger safeguards, proper assessment of individual circumstances and effective procedures to prevent wrongful deportations, particularly in cases involving children, families, people with health conditions and individuals with established residence claims.
The increased use of chartered deportation flights comes amid continuing efforts by European countries to enforce migration and asylum decisions and address irregular migration.
For Nigeria, the trend also underscores the complex challenges surrounding migration, including economic inequality, insecurity, conflict, exploitation and climate-related pressures, which continue to influence the movement of people across international borders.