News
131 Gambians Die on Irregular Migration Routes in 2026
…as ECOWAS Hear Fresh Call for Tougher Action
By Gloria Ikibah
The human cost of irregular migration took centre stage in The Gambia, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Network of Reintegration and Irregular Migration Data (NRIMD), Baye Gassama, disclosed that 131 Gambians have died attempting dangerous migration journeys in 2026, with the sea remaining the deadliest route.
Gassama disclosed this during an engagement between the ECOWAS Parliament and residents of Barra in the North Bank Region as part of the regional legislature’s citizen engagement programme on irregular migration and trafficking in persons.
Presenting the latest migration statistics, he said most of the recorded deaths occurred at sea.
He further revealed that four migrant boats have gone missing this year, leaving 245 Gambians unaccounted for.
According to the figures presented, 1,860 migrants reached Spain in 2026, including 743 Gambians.
Gassama also disclosed that 2,553 migrants were intercepted during the year, among them 574 Gambians, adding that 1,589 of those interceptions took place before the migrants embarked on their journeys.
Highlighting the challenges of reintegration, he said the North Bank Region recorded 246 migrant returnees in 2025, compared with 178 in 2024.
“According to the 2026 data, 131 Gambians died, comprising 117 at sea and 14 on land, and the sea remains the deadliest route.
“The increase from 178 in 2024 to 246 in 2025 indicates a 38 per cent rise in returnees, underlining the urgent need for reintegration support, livelihood programmes and psychosocial services to prevent re-migration and support sustainable community development,” he said.
He emphasised that comprehensive data collection and sustained reintegration initiatives remain essential in helping returnees rebuild their lives.
Gassama also drew attention to the closure of the migration resource centre in Barra, which he said had previously played a key role in educating communities about the dangers of irregular migration.
“When the project phased out, there were no more awareness-raising activities on irregular migration, which has led to an increase in the number of young people venturing on the backway journey,” he noted.
He explained that Lower Nuimi’s strategic location at the mouth of the River Gambia has continued to make it an attractive departure point for migrant smugglers.
Appealing to the National Youth Council, Gassama urged authorities to revive the centre, describing it as an important hub for public awareness campaigns, information sharing and youth activities.
Recalling a recent tragedy, he said many families were still searching for loved ones lost at sea.
He therefore called for stronger legislation to tackle migrant smuggling.
“In 2025, from November to December, there were boats that capsized around Jinack. We lost around 50 people and many of them are still missing.
“We need a strong law against smuggling so that those found smuggling migrants will face appropriate penalties, which are not currently in place,” he stated.
Gassama further urged the government to establish rehabilitation and vocational training centres to equip young people with skills and reduce the temptation to embark on dangerous migration routes.
The ECOWAS delegation also heard emotional testimonies from survivors of irregular migration.
One of them, Momodou Lamin Joof, told lawmakers that despite serving in the Gambia Navy for 11 years and attaining the rank of Lance Corporal, economic hardship and family pressure drove him to attempt the journey five times.
Describing the conditions he endured while detained during the journey, Joof painted a grim picture.
“It was because of the backway that I lost my job, as I was compelled by family pressure and the lack of job opportunities, especially for young people.
“We used the entrance of the prison to urinate because there were no toilet facilities, and the urine flowed back into the prison. When they locked the prison at 7 a.m., it remained closed until 7 a.m. the following day.
“They moved us to three different cells. The conditions were horrible and our suffering continued”, he stated.
Another survivor, Yamundaw Sarr, told the lawmakers she made three unsuccessful attempts to migrate irregularly.
She recalled severe hardship during the journey, including hunger and confinement.
“Getting food during the journey was almost impossible. They seized all our phones and locked us up from morning until evening,” she said.
Both survivors said they had received no meaningful assistance since returning to The Gambia and appealed for support to help them rebuild their lives through skills acquisition and income-generating opportunities.
Community leaders and residents who attended the engagement welcomed the ECOWAS Parliament’s visit and urged the Gambian government to invest more in youth empowerment, job creation and sustainable development initiatives, arguing that addressing unemployment and poverty remains the most effective way to reduce irregular migration.
By Prosper Olayiwola
A House of Assembly Candidate for Ikole Constituency 1 on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kayode Arewa Sanni, has called on his constituents, party members and supporters to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arewa Sanni made the call in Ikole-Ekiti while addressing party faithful and supporters at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in the constituency.
He said the 2027 elections present a defining moment for the people of Ikole Constituency 1 to chart a new course of inclusive representation, people-oriented legislation and accelerated development.
The candidate noted that disunity among party members and supporters remains the greatest obstacle to victory, stressing that only a united front can dislodge entrenched interests and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“I appeal to all our party leaders, members, supporters and well-wishers across Ikole Constituency 1 to put aside personal differences and work together as one family. Our strength lies in our unity,” he said.
Arewa Sanni said his candidacy was driven by a desire to give Ikole Constituency 1 a vibrant and responsive voice in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, with focus on youth empowerment, education, healthcare and rural infrastructure.
He assured constituents that if given the mandate, he would prioritise quality representation and ensure that government presence is felt in all communities within the constituency.
He also called on supporters of the ADC across Ekiti State to rally behind the party’s vision of good governance, transparency and accountability as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
The aspirant expressed confidence that with unity, commitment and collective effort, the ADC would emerge victorious in Ikole Constituency 1 and other constituencies across the state.
No fewer than six inmates have died within one week following a suspected cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano State.
Amnesty International raised the alarm in a post on its official Facebook page, calling on authorities to immediately declare an emergency at the correctional facility.
Amnesty said several other inmates were currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could be higher as the suspected disease continues to spread among prisoners.
It urged the authorities to immediately transfer critically ill inmates to hospitals for proper medical attention to prevent further deaths.
The organisation warned that failure to urgently intervene could amount to arbitrary deprivation of life, which it described as a serious human rights violation under international law.
Amnesty also expressed concern over the broader conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities, particularly the prolonged detention of inmates awaiting trial.
According to the organisation, detainees without financial means face greater difficulty having their rights protected, with some spending years in custody without being convicted of any crime.
It further said many inmates were being held in overcrowded and unhygienic cells without adequate food and healthcare.
Amnesty called for urgent reforms to improve conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and ensure compliance with international best practices.
Popular media personality and self-acclaimed relationship expert, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has reportedly lost her second son while remanded in custody.
The development was confirmed in an online appeal by Amira Agiye, head of the Isaamira Love Foundation, who spoke on Okoro’s behalf to request public financial assistance.
She said, “It is sad to announce to you all that Blessing CEO just lost her second son. My name is Amira Agiye.
“I’m here to appeal on behalf of Blessing CEO, who is currently in custody. I understand that people might have different opinions about her and the circumstances surrounding her case.
“And like every one of us, she deserves compassion and an opportunity for redemption.
She needs N20 million to meet the bail requirements. She also needs N36 million to pay the people she owes who brought the case against her.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive her for the sake of that boy who is still in the mortuary. With Blessing’s full consent and authorisation, I’m appealing to all Nigerians to help donate so we can help her out of this situation.”
Also speaking in a voice conversation played by Amira, Blessing, CEO, said, “My second son, Bryan, was full of life. While in custody, I lost Bryan.
I pray this turns out positive so I can leave this place, pick up the pieces of my life and pay my respects to him.”
Recall that the self-acclaimed relationship expert was remanded in Kirikiri Prison over an N69.15 million property fraud trial.
She was granted N20 million bail in July 2026, with two sureties in like sum, and each surety was required to provide three years’ proof of deposits valued at N20 million.
Following her inability to meet the bail conditions, Blessing CEO, remains in prison facility two months after she was granted bail.
House of Assembly Candidate, Sanni Urges Unity Among Ekiti ADC Members
Between Governor Soludo and Peter Obi: The Truth in Between
Six inmates die in one week amid suspected cholera outbreak in Kano prison
-
News17 hours agoHow AI Could Cause the catastrophic death of a Billion people — Billionaire Bill Gates Warns
-
Sports16 hours agoAFCON Qualifier: Nigeria Defeats Madagascar
-
News17 hours agoPolice Arrest Officer Who Said Igbo Man Can Never Be President
-
News17 hours agoPastor Adeboye Welcomes 105 Nigerians Repatriated From South Africa
-
News6 hours agoPDP group slams Zamfara Governor for attacking Wike, hails FCT Minister’s nationalistic position
-
Politics6 hours agoBefore dreaming of Aso Villa, APM should first find its feet-Ali Campaign Organization