Libyan authorities have transferred 18 undocumented Nigerian migrants from Sirte to the southern city of Sabha, in what appears to be the latest step towards their repatriation.

The transfer, which took place on Monday, September 15, was overseen by the Libyan Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM).

Humanitarian group Migrant Rescue Watch confirmed the development, stating that the migrants were moved in a security-controlled convoy. This is part of Libya’s broader effort to process and return foreign nationals who are staying in the country without legal documents.

Libya has remained a major transit point for migrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe, despite the country’s long-running political instability. Thousands of Africans, including many Nigerians, attempt this dangerous journey every year, often falling victim to trafficking networks or ending up in detention centers.

The country’s immigration facilities regularly hold large numbers of undocumented migrants until they are deported or repatriated.

In recent years, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has worked with Libyan authorities to organize voluntary return flights for migrants who wish to go back home safely. These efforts are part of a broader campaign to curb illegal migration and reduce the humanitarian crisis in detention centers across Libya.