Death tolls as Nigerians and other Africans drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.

Tragic struck as lives of many migrants from Nigeria and other countries drowned to death while crossing the Italy and Spain Mediterranean sea, as reported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The public information  officer of the International Organanisation of Migration in Libya, Christine Petre, reported that the migrants departed from the coastal towns of Azzawiyah and Al khums in Libya."most of the migrants are citizens of Senegal,Mali,and Nigeria. The Libyan coast Guard reported that eight of the survivors are from Bangladesh and two were from Pakistan, " petre said.

According to the IOM, and a report released by Libya's Coast guard,that about 100 migrants on board are still missing.

The United Nations Migration Agency said its officials were present at the disembarkation point in Tripoli,Italy and that they provided the few who survived the tragedy with food and water.

Othman Belbeisi, Chief  of the International Organisation for Migration,Libya mission, said on Wednesday that about 200 migrants or refugees died or are still missing in the Mediterranean sea with about 100 unaccounted for since Saturday.

 It is very disturbing that just ten days into the new year, we have already witnessed close to 800 migrants rescued or intercepted off the Libyan coast, with more lives lost in the sea. " more has to be done to minimize irregular and unsafe migration of people along the central Mediterranean route. "Belbiesi said.

According to him, the tragedy struck at a time when Mediterranean migrants' death dropped as International Organisation for Migration recorded only 26 on the mediterranean Sea lanes December last year.

Belbeisi said while january 2017 witnessed about 254 deaths, this week's reports suggest that the start of 2018 might even be more deadly.

IOM reported on tuesday earlier this week that 81 Mediterranean Sea deaths of migrants or refugees were recorded in the first eight days of the year with five in Western Mediterranen waters off Spain and Morocco and the others between italy and libya.

In the latest, and third deadliest, shipwreck in the Mediterranean since Saturday, the Libyan Coast Guard rescued has atleast three rubber boats with 279 migrants made up of 19 women,243 men, 13 boys and four girls, in an operation lasting at least 12 hours.