Thirty-six Nigerians have been deported from four European countries in a coordinated repatriation operation that also saw five Ghanaians and one Gambian returned to Africa.

The deportees were flown to Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, on a chartered flight between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Germany accounted for the largest number of deportees, sending back 29 Nigerians, while Austria deported three, Luxembourg two and Hungary one.

Overall, 35 people were deported through Germany, comprising 29 Nigerians, five Ghanaians and one Gambian.

Among the three Nigerians deported from Austria was an individual previously convicted of drug-related offences.

Austria’s Interior Minister said the government would continue to deport people residing illegally in the country, as well as foreign nationals convicted of crimes.

The minister said the country’s deportation policy had contributed to a decline in net migration, noting that Austrian authorities had removed more illegal residents and convicted offenders in the first half of the year than ever before.

The latest operation comes amid increased deportation activities across Europe targeting foreign nationals without legal residency rights or those convicted of criminal offences.

Germany had previously deported 137 Nigerians in five charter flights between February and June 2026.

The deportations comprised 27 Nigerians in February, 37 in March, 24 in April, 23 in May and 26 in June.