Many Nigerians feared dead, missing as boat capsizes off Libya coast

Many Nigerians are feared dead after a rubber boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Libya, leaving at least 53 people dead or missing.

This was disclosed by the International Organisation for Migration in a post on its website on Monday.

It said the vessel, which was conveying 55 migrants and refugees of various African nationalities, overturned north of Zuwara, Libya, on Friday.

The IOM said only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation conducted by Libyan authorities.

According to IOM, one of the survivors reported losing her husband in the incident, while the other said she lost her two babies when the boat capsized.

“IOM mourns the loss of life in yet another deadly incident along the Central Mediterranean route,” the organisation said, adding that its teams provided emergency medical assistance to the survivors upon disembarkation in coordination with relevant authorities.

Survivor accounts revealed that the boat departed Al-Zawiya, Libya, at about 11:00 p.m. on February 5. Approximately six hours into the journey, the vessel began taking in water before capsizing.

IOM data indicate that at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in January alone, following several “invisible” shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean, many of which went unrecorded due to extreme weather conditions.

According to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, more than 1,300 migrants have gone missing along the Central Mediterranean route in 2025.

ADVERTISEMENT

The latest tragedy brings the number of migrants reported dead or missing on the route in 2026 to at least 484.

The organisation warned that human trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants, subjecting them to dangerous crossings in unseaworthy boats while exposing them to severe abuse and protection risks.

It stressed the urgent need for stronger international cooperation, protection-focused responses and the creation of safe and regular migration pathways to curb trafficking, reduce risks and save lives.