Senate Urges Swift Rescue of Women, Children from Libyan Prisons

Senate Urges Swift Rescue of Women, Children from Libyan Prisons

The Nigerian Senate has demanded immediate intervention to evacuate hundreds of Nigerian women and children languishing in notorious Libyan prisons, where reports of abuse, starvation, and forced labor persist.The upper chamber of Nigeria's National Assembly passed a motion on Tuesday, spearheaded by Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), urging the federal government to collaborate with the United Nations and Libyan authorities for their urgent repatriation. Moro, who chaired the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, highlighted the plight of over 200 Nigerian nationals, predominantly women and minors, detained in facilities like the infamous Tawergha and Zintan centers, often on charges of irregular migration."This is a matter of life and death," Moro declared during the plenary session, citing recent viral videos and testimonies from returnees detailing brutal conditions, including beatings, sexual violence, and inadequate medical care. "These vulnerable citizens, many trafficked under false promises of better lives in Europe, are being treated as commodities in Libya's fractured conflict economy. We cannot stand idle while our daughters and grandchildren suffer."The motion received unanimous support, with senators like Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) emphasizing the gender-specific horrors faced by female detainees. "Pregnant women and nursing mothers are among those arrested in house raids by Libyan security forces," Akpoti-Uduaghan noted, referencing a September 2025 video circulated on social media showing distressed Nigerian women pleading for help from hiding spots in Tripoli.Libya's ongoing instability since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi has turned migrant detention centers into de facto "forced labor camps," according to a 2017 UNICEF report echoed in recent UN updates. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that up to 100,000 Nigerians have been stranded in such facilities over the years, with 2025 seeing a spike in deportations, over 150 women and 17 children returned in March alone under IOM's voluntary repatriation scheme. However, many remain trapped, exploited by militias profiting from ransoms and trafficking.Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the motion to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora, and Interior for oversight, tasking them with engaging NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. "The executive must activate diplomatic channels without delay," Akpabio stated. "We've seen successful evacuations before; this cannot be another forgotten crisis."The resolution also calls for enhanced border security in Nigeria to curb irregular migration from states like Edo, where smuggling networks lure vulnerable youths with tales of prosperity. Civil society groups, including the IOM and Amnesty International, welcomed the Senate's action, urging swift funding for repatriation flights. As of Tuesday, NiDCOM confirmed ongoing talks with Libyan counterparts, but no timeline for rescues was provided.   

Source: Senate Urges Swift Rescue of Women, Children from Libyan Prisons

 - NigerianEye

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