Libyan authorities have deported 80 Nigerian migrants held in various detention camps across the country, marking the latest move in an ongoing effort to curb irregular migration and ease overcrowding in the North African nation’s facilities.
The Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), in partnership with the Nigerian Consulate in Tripoli, facilitated the repatriation through Mitiga International Airport on Wednesday. According to Migrant Rescue Watch, a group that tracks migrant welfare and human rights in Libya, the deportation followed judicial orders issued by the Libyan Judicial Police.”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 stated.
Migrant Rescue Watch further confirmed that the operation was carried out in conjunction with Nigerian consular officials to ensure that “the returnees were properly documented and given the necessary consular assistance before departure.”
Officials at DCIM described the coordinated removal as “part of regular efforts to address the growing problem of irregular migration, provide relief to overcrowded detention centers, and enforce Libyan judicial rulings.” The group noted the process was conducted in compliance with international migration management standards.
Most of the deported Nigerians are among hundreds of African migrants who have been detained in Libya after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe using irregular routes. Each year, thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa pass through Libya, hoping to reach European shores in search of better opportunities, but many end up trapped in harsh conditions.
The repatriation exercise also follows calls from international human rights groups for safer migration channels and the humane treatment of those detained. While authorities emphasized the necessity of reducing congestion in holding centers, observers continue to express concerns about the welfare and rights of migrants repatriated under such operations.
