The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says 53 migrants, including several Nigerians, are believed to have died after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the Libyan coast.
Only two Nigerian women survived the incident, which occurred north of Zuwara on Feb. 6.
According to the IOM, the survivors described devastating personal losses. One woman said she lost her husband in the tragedy, while the other reported that two of her children died. Both received emergency medical treatment after being rescued, in coordination with Libyan authorities.
The boat, which was carrying migrants from different African countries, departed Al-Zawiya at about 11 p.m. on Feb. 5. Roughly six hours later, it began taking on water and capsized.
The incident underscores the continuing dangers faced by Nigerians and other Africans attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean migration route, one of the world’s deadliest.
IOM data show that the route remains highly perilous. In January alone, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in separate shipwrecks blamed on severe weather.
More than 1,300 people went missing along the Central Mediterranean route in 2025. With the latest incident, the number of migrants reported dead or missing in 2026 has risen to at least 484.
The IOM warned that human smuggling and trafficking networks continue to exploit migrants by placing them on unsafe, overcrowded boats, exposing them to grave risks and human rights abuses.
The agency reiterated the need for safer and legal migration pathways to prevent further loss of life and called for stronger international cooperation to protect migrants and dismantle criminal networks facilitating the dangerous crossings.
