Mass Deportation: Libya Sends 80 Nigerians Back Home In Ruthless Anti-Migration Crackdown

The Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), in collaboration with the Nigerian Consulate in Tripoli, coordinated the repatriation exercise, which took place on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, via Mitiga International Airport.

According to Migrant Rescue Watch, an organisation that monitors migrant welfare in Libya, the deportation was executed following judicial orders issued by the Libyan Judicial Police.

“The affected Nigerians were detained in various facilities across Libya before being transferred to Tripoli under heavy security for their scheduled return flight,” the group confirmed.

It also noted that Nigerian officials provided documentation and consular support to ensure the safe return of the migrants.

The deportees are among thousands of African migrants currently held in Libya after failed attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe through irregular routes.

Libya remains a major transit hub for migrants escaping poverty, political unrest, and violence in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, human rights organisations have continued to condemn the appalling conditions inside Libya’s detention centres, citing overcrowding, abuse, and exploitation.

They have called on African and European governments to focus on safe migration alternatives and tackle the root causes of migration rather than relying solely on forceful deportations.

The latest operation underscores Libya’s ongoing efforts to tighten migration controls amid growing international pressure, as both countries work diplomatically to ensure the safe return and reintegration of stranded Nigerian citizens.