Thirty-six Nigerians have been deported from four European countries in a joint operation involving Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Hungary.
The coordinated operation saw a total of 41 people flown to West Africa on a chartered flight, with Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, listed as the destinations.
According to reports, Germany organised the joint deportation operation, with Austria, Luxembourg and Hungary participating in the exercise.
Germany accounted for the largest number of deportees. Of the 35 people deported from Germany, 29 were Nigerians, while five were Ghanaians and one was a Gambian.
Austria deported three Nigerians, while Luxembourg deported two Nigerians and Hungary deported one Nigerian, bringing the total number of Nigerians involved in the operation to 36.
The charter flight reportedly departed Europe between Wednesday night and Thursday morning as part of continued efforts by European countries to return foreign nationals who no longer have legal permission to remain in their territories or, in some cases, have been convicted of criminal offences.
One of the three Nigerians deported from Austria had previously been convicted of a drug-related offence, according to reports.
Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, said his government would continue its deportation policy against people residing illegally in the country and foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
The latest operation comes amid an increase in deportation activities involving Nigerian nationals from parts of Europe.
Earlier reports indicated that Germany deported 137 Nigerians in five chartered flights between February and June 2026, highlighting the growing use of joint and chartered deportation operations involving European countries.
