Libyan authorities have deported 80 Nigerian migrants from detention facilities across the country as part of a renewed push to curb irregular migration and decongest overcrowded holding centres.
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, an organization monitoring 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 group confirmed.
The group said the operation was carried out in collaboration with Nigerian consular officials to ensure that the returnees were properly documented and given the necessary consular assistance before departure.
The 80 deported Nigerians are among the hundreds of African migrants currently being held in Libya for attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe through irregular routes.
Libya remains a major transit point for migrants fleeing poverty, armed conflict, and political instability across sub-Saharan Africa in search of better opportunities.