Libya Deports 80 Nigerians from Detention Camps Amid Crackdown on Irregular Migration

Libyan authorities have deported 80 Nigerian migrants held in detention centres across the country, as part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal migration and decongest overcrowded facilities.

The repatriation, coordinated by Libya’s Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) in partnership with the Nigerian Consulate in Tripoli, was carried out through Mitiga International Airport on Wednesday.

According to Migrant Rescue Watch, a humanitarian group monitoring migrant welfare in Libya, the operation followed judicial directives from 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 organisation stated.

The group added that Nigerian consular officials were actively involved in the process to ensure proper documentation and provide consular support to the returnees before their departure.

The 80 Nigerians are part of a larger population of African migrants detained in Libya while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe through irregular routes.

Libya remains a key transit point for thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa fleeing poverty, conflict, and economic hardship in search of better living conditions in Europe.

However, international rights organisations have repeatedly raised alarms over dire conditions in Libyan detention centres — citing overcrowding, poor sanitation, and reports of abuse. They continue to urge African and European governments to prioritise safe migration pathways and address the underlying causes of irregular migration across the region.