Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
The Lagos State Government has renewed its commitment to fighting human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and the rising japa migration trend through stronger collaboration with federal agencies and international partners. This focus was highlighted during a sensitisation programme held in Lagos with the theme, “Partnership for Protection: Safeguarding Public Servants Against Trafficking and Unsafe Migration.” The programme was organised by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, and attended by representatives from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).…
Indian workers are now at the centre of global labour demand, according to the latest International Migration Outlook 2025 released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report shows that countries facing ongoing skill shortages are increasingly turning to India for trained professionals and semi-skilled workers. The data reveals that nearly 600,000 Indians migrated to OECD countries in 2023, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. This makes India the top source of new migrants to OECD member states. The trend reflects a global shift where migration is no longer dominated by low-wage labour alone, but…
A senior official at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has admitted that human rights laws may need to be reviewed as the UK and other European countries continue to face rising levels of illegal migration. Alain Berset, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said the institution is “absolutely ready” to discuss possible reforms. This comes as pressure grows inside the UK to withdraw from the ECHR altogether. The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, oversees how the human rights convention is applied across its 46 member states. Both Reform UK and the Conservative Party have argued…
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is considering a new proposal that would involve hiring private contractors, described by some as “bounty hunters,” to help locate undocumented migrants. This information comes from a procurement document reviewed by The Intercept. The plan would allow multiple private companies to assist ICE with tracking and confirming the whereabouts of migrants across the country. This proposal is part of a larger push by the administration to speed up deportation operations. Under the plan, private contractors would conduct what is known as skip tracing, which involves finding people whose location is unknown. They…
The European Union has stated that migrant workers are essential in filling job shortages and supporting economic growth across Europe. This comes after the European Commission released new employment data showing how migrants are helping Europe move closer to its 2030 employment goals. According to the Commission’s Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2025 report, migrant labour has become a major force driving job creation in the region. The EU is aiming for a 78% employment rate among adults aged 20 to 64, and this target is now more achievable partly because of migrant workers. The report shows that more…
A man from Wicklow has appeared in Bray District Court after being accused of posting false information online about a migrant. The man, identified as 44-year-old Kirk Loco of Waverley Meadow in Broomhall, was charged after he allegedly created and shared a fake post claiming a migrant had behaved indecently on public transport. However, Gardaí confirmed that the claims made in the post were completely false. According to the case presented in court, the post included a picture of a man sleeping on a bus. The message that went with the picture falsely accused the man of exposing himself to…
A 22-year-old Kurdish man from Iraqi Kurdistan has died in a Libyan detention center after suffering from starvation and illness. The young man, named Hogr Aso, left his hometown in Sulaimaniyah province on August 31 in search of a better life in Europe. His body has now been returned to Iraq, leaving his family devastated and raising concerns about the treatment of migrants held in Libya. Hogr’s father said his son decided to leave because of unemployment and hopelessness. He traveled legally to Libya through Egypt, but Libyan guards detained him soon after his arrival. According to his father, Hogr…
Iran’s parliament has taken a major step toward establishing a National Migration Organization to manage and organize the affairs of migrants and foreign nationals living in the country. During a session on Monday, November 3, members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly approved the first two articles of the proposed bill. The main goal is to create a centralized institution that will coordinate all migration-related policies across the country. Lawmakers believe that the current system, which involves multiple agencies and ministries, has created confusion and made it difficult to plan effectively. The new organization is expected to bring all management, registration,…
A Dutch court has begun the trial of an Eritrean man accused of leading a brutal migrant smuggling network that targeted people fleeing East Africa. The man, known as Tewelde Goitom or by the name Amanuel Walid, is suspected of running a trafficking operation that brought migrants to Europe under severe and dangerous conditions. Prosecutors say Goitom helped control routes where people were taken from East Africa to Libya and then toward Europe. They claim migrants were trapped in camps in Libya, where their relatives were forced to send large sums of money to secure their release. Many families faced…
Finland is seeing a rise in fear among undocumented migrants as the country’s right-wing government continues to tighten immigration rules. Since 2023, Finland has made it harder to get asylum, residence permits, and family reunification. These changes have led to more deportations and a drop in both work-based immigration and successful asylum approvals. From January to September 2025, about 2,070 foreign nationals were deported from Finland. This is 30% more than during the same period in 2024. Officials say they are now checking more carefully whether migrants have the legal right to stay in the country. If they do not,…