Authorities in Libya have transferred 18 undocumented Nigerian migrants from the Sirte Immigration Detention Centre to the southern city of Sabha, where they are expected to be repatriated in the coming days.
Migrant Rescue Watch, a humanitarian monitoring group, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday, noting that the transfer was carried out under the supervision of the Libyan Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM). The migrants were reportedly transported by road in a security-controlled convoy as part of Libya’s broader strategy to return foreign nationals without legal status.
The Nigerians, who were detained for attempting to cross into Europe illegally, will remain in the Sabha facility until arrangements are concluded for their return.
Libya remains a major transit route for migrants seeking passage to Europe through the Mediterranean, despite years of political instability and armed conflict. Its detention centres are known to house large numbers of undocumented migrants awaiting deportation or voluntary repatriation, with humanitarian organisations repeatedly raising concerns about overcrowding, poor conditions, and rights abuses.
In recent years, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has worked with Libyan authorities to organise voluntary repatriation flights, offering migrants the option of returning home safely.
When contacted on Tuesday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said: “I don’t have any information yet about that.”
Similarly, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, told Vanguard: “NIDCOM has not been officially briefed on this.”
