Germany deported at least 137 Nigerian citizens in five documented chartered operations between February and June 2026, according to figures monitored by the DERS Team and Refugees4refugees.org. The deportations highlight a growing reliance on chartered flights for repatriation, with several operations involving cooperation between multiple European states.
Monthly Breakdown of Deportations
The documented arrivals comprised 27 Nigerians deported in February, 37 deported directly by Germany as part of a 50-person joint European Union operation in March, and 24, 23, and 26 Nigerians deported in April, May, and June, respectively. These figures point to a steady stream of returns over the five-month period.
On February 18, 2026, 27 Nigerians arrived at the Lagos Cargo Airport following a deportation flight from Germany. According to Refugees4refugees.org, the flight was operated by World2fly and departed Stuttgart before arriving in Lagos shortly before 2 pm. The report said the operation was primarily enforced by Germany, although one person, described as severely ill and mentally unfit, was transferred from Slovakia to join the 26 people deported from Germany.
Key Participants and Health Concerns
The report identified Baden-Württemberg as a major participant in the operation and said Stuttgart had hosted both the December 2025 and February 2026 deportation operations to Nigeria. It further alleged that some of those deported had serious health conditions, while others had lived and worked in Germany for several years.
One notable case highlighted was that of a single mother and her three children who were deported from the Sindelfingen district of Stuttgart despite reportedly possessing documents related to their residency status. According to the report, the family later returned to Germany following the intervention of a volunteer and confirmation from local foreign authorities that their deportation had been carried out in error.
Context of the February Deportation
The February deportation also came as Nigeria was participating in preparations for the Voluntary National Review of the Global Compact for Migration ahead of the 2026 International Migration Review Forum in New York. This timing adds a layer of complexity to the deportation issue, as Nigeria engages with international migration frameworks.
On March 10, another 50 people were deported to Nigeria in a joint EU operation hosted by Germany in cooperation with Spain, Austria, and Belgium. Germany accounted directly for 37 of the deportations, according to the figures provided. The operation was described as the largest single deportation of Nigerians recorded in the three-year period covered by the report.
Subsequent Operations and Total
According to the supplied data, another 24 Nigerians, including women and a minor, were deported on April 9 aboard a chartered flight from Frankfurt organised by Frontex in collaboration with German authorities. In May 2026, a further 23 Nigerians were returned to the country, while another 26 arrived in Lagos on June 17 following a routine chartered deportation flight.
Overall, the five documented operations resulted in the return of 137 Nigerians to the country between February and June 2026. These figures, compiled by monitoring groups, underscore the ongoing cooperation between European states in repatriation efforts and raise questions about the treatment of deportees with health issues or residency claims.
