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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says some Nigerians are among 53 migrants feared dead after a rubber boat carrying 55 persons capsized off the coast of Libya.
In a statement on Monday, IOM said the vessel overturned north of Zuwara on February 6, noting that only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation by Libyan authorities.
The organisation said one of the survivors lost her husband, while the other lost two babies.
“One of the survivors reported losing her husband, while the other said she lost her two babies in the tragedy,” the statement reads.
IOM said its teams provided the survivors with emergency medical care upon disembarkation, in coordination with relevant authorities, while mourning the loss of lives along the Central Mediterranean route.
IOM said the survivor recounted that the boat, carrying migrants and refugees of various African nationalities, departed Al-Zawiya, Libya, at about 11pm on February 5 but capsized about six hours later after taking on water.
Nigerians are among migrants who frequently use the Central Mediterranean route in attempts to reach Europe.
According to data from IOM, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing in January alone following multiple “invisible” shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean amid extreme weather conditions.
The organisation said more than 1,300 migrants have gone missing on the route in 2025, with the latest incident bringing the number of migrants reported dead or missing in 2026 to at least 484.
IOM warned that trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants by facilitating dangerous crossings in unseaworthy boats, exposing them to severe abuse and protection risks.
The agency called for stronger international cooperation, protection-centred responses, and the expansion of safe and regular migration pathways to curb smuggling and save lives.
