Thirty-six Nigerians have been deported from four European countries as part of a joint charter operation involving Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Hungary.
The deportees were among 41 people flown to Nigeria and Ghana on a charter flight that departed Europe between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, according to Austrian news outlet Heute.at.
Germany recorded the highest number of Nigerian deportees, with 29 Nigerians removed from the country. Austria deported three Nigerians, while Luxembourg and Hungary deported two and one Nigerian respectively.
The German-organised flight reportedly carried 35 people, comprising 29 Nigerians, five Ghanaians and one Gambian. Lagos and Accra were listed as the destinations.
The report also disclosed that one of the Nigerians deported from Austria had previously been convicted of a drug-related offence.
Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, said his government would maintain its policy of deporting people who are living in the country illegally or have committed crimes.
“The negative net migration is being continued through a consistent deportation policy,” Karner said.
He added that Austrian authorities had removed more illegal residents and criminal offenders in the first half of the year than ever before.
“We will continue on this necessary path undeterred,” the minister stated.
The latest development follows the deportation of 137 Nigerians from Germany through five chartered flights between February and June 2026.
Records from the earlier operations showed that 27 Nigerians were deported in February, 37 in March, 24 in April, 23 in May and 26 in June.
The latest joint operation comes amid continued efforts by European countries to remove foreign nationals who either lack legal status to remain in their territories or have been convicted of criminal offences.
