Libyan security officials have confirmed the arrest of five Nigerian migrants found travelling without legal documents during routine road checks in the Bin Jawad area of Sirte.
The arrests, which were carried out earlier this week, were disclosed in a statement issued yesterday by Migrants Rescue Watch, a group that closely monitors migration issues in North Africa.
The organisation explained that the migrants were intercepted by police officers conducting road security operations.
“Authorities in Bin Jawad stopped the individuals and discovered they had no valid papers.
“They were immediately transferred to the appropriate agencies for further action,” the group noted in its update.
Police sources said the migrants are now in custody and are expected to face legal procedures under Libyan immigration laws.
The authorities emphasised that the move was part of ongoing efforts to regulate irregular migration routes often used by human traffickers.
AFRIPOST reports that Libya has become a major transit point for sub-Saharan African migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean into Europe.
However, those unable to proceed often endure severe challenges, including detention in overcrowded facilities and the constant threat of deportation.
A civil rights advocate in Tripoli, speaking on the matter, remarked:
“The humanitarian situation for undocumented migrants remains troubling. Without stronger international cooperation, many of them will continue to suffer in silence.”
The incident adds to growing concerns about the treatment of African migrants in Libya, as rights groups continue to call for better protection mechanisms and fairer migration policies.