By Dalena Reporters — Libya/Nigeria, 12 November 2025
A tragic maritime disaster off the coast of Libya has claimed the lives of dozens of migrants, including nationals from Nigeria, once again underscoring the deadly risks facing those who attempt the perilous Central Mediterranean migration route. According to a statement released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday, 42 migrants are missing and presumed dead after a rubber boat carrying 49 people capsized near the Al Buri Oil Field offshore zone.
The vessel departed from the north-western Libyan port town of Zuwara at approximately 3 a.m. on 3 November, carrying 47 men and 2 women, when high waves impaired the engine nearly six hours later and caused the boat to capsize. After drifting for six days adrift in the Mediterranean Sea, only seven men — four from Sudan, two from Nigeria, and one from Cameroon — were rescued in a search and rescue operation conducted by Libyan authorities on Saturday. The IOM confirmed that the missing include nationals from Sudan (29), Somalia (8), Cameroon (3) and Nigeria (2).
Upon rescue, the survivors were provided emergency medical care, water and food in coordination with the IOM and local authorities in Tripoli, and reported suffering sunburn and skin irritation from prolonged exposure at sea.
This latest shipwreck adds to the grim statistics of the central Mediterranean migration route, where over 1,000 people are estimated to have died so far in 2025 attempting the risky crossing from Libya to Europe. BSS The IOM described the event as a stark reminder of the “urgent need for strengthened regional cooperation, expanded safe and regular migration pathways, and more effective search and rescue operations” to prevent further loss of life.
For Nigeria, the presence of its nationals among the victims highlights the continued vulnerability of its citizens who undertake irregular migration in search of better opportunities. Analysts say that beyond the boats themselves, the real crisis involves structural drivers — war, poverty, lack of opportunity, and the lure of Europe — all interacting with criminal trafficking networks that exploit these desperate routes.
The Libyan coast remains a chaotic transit zone for migrants, with limited regulation, frequent abuse, and dangerous crossings. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, the country has become a major hub for human smuggling and a high-risk departure point for those heading to Europe.
In light of this tragedy, calls are mounting for Nigerian authorities, international partners and civil society to redouble efforts on the root causes of irregular migration, to scale up safe migration channels, and to provide return and reintegration support for stranded migrants. For the families of the lost, and for those still making the journey, this incident delivers a chilling warning: the sea offers no second chance.