SEVERAL NIGERIANS KILLED AS MIGRANT BOAT CAPSIZES OFF LIBYAN COAST
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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says some Nigerians are among 53 migrants who are feared dead after a rubber boat with 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya.
In a statement on Monday, IOM said the boat overturned north of Zuwara on February 6. They mentioned that only two Nigerian women were saved during a search and rescue operation by Libyan authorities.
The organisation said one of the survivors lost her husband, while the other lost two babies.
“One of the survivors reported losing her husband, while the other said she lost her two babies in the tragedy,” the statement reads.
The IOM stated that their teams gave emergency medical help to the survivors right after they arrived, working with the proper authorities. They also expressed sadness over the loss of life along the Central Mediterranean route.
According to the survivor, the boat left Al-Zawiya, Libya, around 11 p.m. on February 5, carrying migrants and refugees from different African countries.
The boat overturned about six hours later when it started taking in water.
Nigerians are among migrants who frequently use the Central Mediterranean route in attempts to reach Europe.
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According to data from IOM, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in January alone after several “invisible” shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean, which happened because of very bad weather conditions.
The organisation said more than 1,300 migrants have gone missing on the route in 2025, with the latest incident bringing the number of migrants reported dead or missing in 2026 to at least 484.
IOM warned that trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants by facilitating dangerous crossings in unseaworthy boats, exposing them to severe abuse and protection risks.
The agency called for stronger international cooperation, protection-centred responses, and the expansion of safe and regular migration pathways to curb smuggling and save lives.
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