The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported that 53 migrants, including several Nigerians, are believed to have died after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya.
Only two Nigerian women survived the incident, which took place north of Zuwara on February 6.
The survivors shared their heartbreaking stories, with one woman losing her husband and the other tragically reporting the loss of two children.
They received immediate medical assistance after being rescued, in cooperation with the relevant Libyan authorities.
The boat, which was carrying migrants from various African nations, set sail from Al-Zawiya around 11 p.m. on February 5.
Approximately six hours later, it began taking on water and ultimately overturned, leading to this tragic event.
This incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by Nigerians and other Africans trying to migrate via the Central Mediterranean route.
IOM data shows that migration along this route is extremely perilous.
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In January alone, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing due to several shipwrecks caused by severe weather conditions.
In total, over 1,300 individuals went missing on the Central Mediterranean route in 2025, with the recent tragedy raising the count of deaths or missing migrants in 2026 to at least 484.
IOM has also cautioned that smuggling and trafficking networks continue to take advantage of migrants, forcing them onto unsafe and overcrowded boats, which exposes them to significant dangers and human rights abuses.
The organization stressed the urgent need for safer, legal migration options to prevent further loss of life.
The agency has called for enhanced international collaboration to protect migrants and combat the illegal networks that facilitate these dangerous crossings.
Authorities have urged the global community to adopt protection-oriented measures and expand safe migration pathways to avert future tragedies along the Central Mediterranean route.
