The Federal Government has once again sounded the alarm over the increasing number of Nigerians embarking on perilous journeys to Libya in a desperate bid to reach Europe illegally, warning that the North African country remains a dangerous trap rather than a gateway to greener pastures.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the stern warning during a media briefing on Tuesday, where she decried the growing wave of human trafficking and illegal migration despite repeated government interventions.
“Libya is not an escape route; it is a death trap,” Dabiri-Erewa said emphatically.
“People are still being deceived into believing that from Libya they can easily cross into Europe. That is a lie traffickers tell them. What awaits them are detention camps, torture, and in many cases, death.”
According to the NIDCOM boss, over 5,000 Nigerians have been rescued and repatriated from Libya in 2025 alone through collaborative efforts between the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).Still, thousands continue to pay hefty sums — up to N1.5 million — to traffickers who ferry them through treacherous desert routes.
“These traffickers exploit the desperation of our people. They collect money, promise a better life, but deliver suffering and danger,” she lamented.
“Many Nigerians who make distress calls from Libya sold everything they had to finance these deadly trips.”
She described Libya as a lawless territory where access to certain areas is controlled by armed rebel factions, making rescue operations both risky and complex.
“We don’t negotiate with the government in Libya because there is none. Rebel groups control different territories, and even humanitarian operations require clearance from these factions.
That’s why the Office of the National Security Adviser is leading these rescue missions discreetly in partnership with IOM,” Dabiri-Erewa explained.
She also called on law enforcement agencies to crack down on trafficking rings operating within Nigeria, stressing that the criminals who lure citizens into these life-threatening journeys must be arrested, named, and prosecuted.
“These are not travel agents. They are criminals feeding off the misery of others. We must name and shame them,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa urged media organisations, religious institutions, and civil society groups to amplify anti-trafficking messages and enlighten vulnerable Nigerians about the dangers of irregular migration.
“No matter how difficult things may seem at home, the desert route through Libya is not the answer. We are losing too many lives, and it must stop,” she concluded.
The warning comes amid renewed efforts by the federal government to curb the rising trend of illegal migration through North Africa, especially as security conditions in Libya continue to deteriorate.
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