In a tragic development that highlights the continuing dangers of irregular migration, two Nigerian citizens have lost their lives while two others were rescued after a migrant boat carrying 49 people capsized off the coast of Libya.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed the incident, which occurred as the migrants attempted the perilous Central Mediterranean crossing to Europe in search of better opportunities.
The Fatal Journey
According to IOM reports, the rubber boat departed from Zuwara in northwest Libya around 3 a.m. on November 3, 2025. The vessel encountered trouble approximately six hours into its journey when high waves caused engine failure, leading to the capsizing.
All 49 passengers - comprising 47 men and 2 women - were thrown into the Mediterranean waters. The boat then drifted for six days before Libyan authorities initiated rescue operations on November 8.
Only seven survivors were rescued during the operation, including two Nigerians, four Sudanese nationals, and one Cameroonian.
Missing Migrants and Rising Death Toll
The IOM provided a grim breakdown of the missing passengers, which includes:
- 29 from Sudan
- 8 from Somalia
- 3 from Cameroon
- 2 from Nigeria
IOM teams immediately provided emergency medical care, food, and water to the survivors upon their arrival.
This latest tragedy adds to the alarming statistics documented by the IOM's Missing Migrants Project, which reports that more than 1,000 people have died on the Central Mediterranean route in 2025 alone.
World's Deadliest Migration Route
The Central Mediterranean has earned the grim distinction of being the world's deadliest migration path. Since 2014, the IOM estimates that over 25,600 people have died or gone missing along this route.
Many of these deaths are attributed to overcrowded, unseaworthy boats that are often launched simultaneously, complicating rescue missions and increasing the likelihood of maritime disasters.
The IOM has emphasized the urgent need for strengthened regional cooperation, expanded safe migration pathways, and more effective search and rescue operations to prevent similar tragedies.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service continues its efforts to combat irregular migration. Recent operations saw 294 Nigerians prevented from leaving the country illegally, while 332 undocumented migrants were denied entry at border points.
Comptroller General Kemi Nandap also revealed that recent intensified surveillance operations resulted in the rescue of 36 victims of human trafficking.
