Libyan authorities have transferred 18 undocumented Nigerian migrants from the Sirte Immigration Detention Centre to Sabha in preparation for repatriation.

The move was confirmed in a statement released on Monday by Migrant Rescue Watch, a humanitarian monitoring group, which said the transfer was conducted under the supervision of the Libyan Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM).

According to the organisation, the migrants were transported overland in a security convoy, marking part of Libya’s ongoing measures to return foreign nationals without valid documentation to their countries of origin.

“Eighteen undocumented migrants of Nigerian nationality were moved from Sirte Immigration Detention Centre to Sabha for repatriation,” the group said.

Libya has continued to serve as a transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe through the Mediterranean, with many detained in holding facilities while awaiting deportation or voluntary return.

In recent years, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has worked with Libyan authorities to facilitate repatriation flights for those willing to return to their home countries.

The transfer of the 18 Nigerians reflects continued coordination between DCIM and humanitarian groups on migrant repatriation efforts.