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.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) disclosed this in a statement published on its website on Monday.
According to the IOM, the boat was carrying 55 migrants and refugees from different African countries when it overturned on Friday, north of Zuwara, Libya.
Only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation carried out by Libyan authorities.
The IOM revealed that one of the survivors said she lost her husband in the incident, while the other reported that she lost her two babies when the boat capsized.
The organisation described the tragedy as another painful reminder of the dangers migrants face while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean route.
Survivors explained that the boat departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, around 11:00 p.m. on February 5, but about six hours into the journey, it began taking in water before eventually capsizing.
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The IOM also noted that at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in January, many of them linked to shipwrecks that were not recorded due to harsh weather.
Data from the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project showed that more than 1,300 migrants have gone missing along the Central Mediterranean route in 2025, while the latest incident has pushed the number of reported deaths and missing persons in 2026 to at least 484.
The organisation warned that human traffickers and smugglers continue to exploit migrants, forcing them into dangerous sea journeys using unsafe boats, exposing them to serious risks and abuse.
It called for stronger international cooperation and safer migration routes to reduce trafficking and prevent further loss of life.
