Many Nigerians Feared Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Libya Coast

• At least 53 people are dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized off Libya
• Only two Nigerian women survived the incident
• IOM warns of continued exploitation by human trafficking networks

A rubber boat carrying 55 migrants from various African countries capsized north of Zuwara, Libya, on February 5, leaving at least 53 people dead or missing, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported. Only two Nigerian women survived the disaster.

One survivor lost her husband, while the other tragically lost her two babies. The IOM provided emergency medical assistance to the rescued women and expressed deep sorrow over yet another deadly incident along the Central Mediterranean migration route.

Migration risks continue

Data from IOM’s Missing Migrants Project indicate that more than 1,300 migrants went missing along the Central Mediterranean in 2025. As of 2026, at least 484 deaths or disappearances have been reported.

The organisation warned that traffickers continue to exploit migrants with unsafe crossings, emphasizing the urgent need for international cooperation, protection-focused responses, and safe, legal migration pathways to prevent further loss of life.

Also read: Tinubu intervenes, Fubara and Wike hold reconciliation talks