Senators in session
Oct. 14, 2025
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to initiate immediate diplomatic and humanitarian measures to repatriate hundreds of Nigerian women and children currently held in Libyan prisons.
The resolution followed a motion by Sen.
Aniekan Bassey on the urgent need to safeguard Nigerians from trafficking, slavery and human rights abuses in Libya.
In his lead presentation, Bassey expressed deep concern over the persistent dangers of irregular migration through Libya, which he described as “a corridor of death and despair” for many desperate Nigerians.
He cited reports indicating that about 1,000 Nigerians were repatriated from Libya in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with many survivors recounting harrowing ordeals of torture, sexual abuse and forced labour.
The Senate also referenced findings by Amnesty International and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which documented widespread abuses including rape, arbitrary detention by both state and militia-run detention centres in Libya.
Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP -Kogi) proposed an additional prayer.
The prayer was for the upper chamber to direct the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Correctional Service to collaborate with Libyan authorities to fast-track the release and repatriation of Nigerian female inmates and their children born in detention.
Akpoti-Uduaghan lamented the plight of the victims, many of whom she said were trafficked under false pretences, only to end up imprisoned after escaping forced prostitution.
“These women were sexually assaulted in detention, leading to pregnancies. Their children, born behind bars, they must not suffer for crimes they did not commit,” she said.
The motion, seconded by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, was unanimously adopted.
After extensive debate, the Senate urged the Federal Government, through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs, as well as NAPTIP, to develop a robust reintegration and protection programme for affected persons.
It also called for strengthening diplomatic engagement with Libyan authorities and mobilise regional action through the AU, ECOWAS and the United Nations.
This is to ensure the protection of Nigerians in detention and accountability for human rights violations.
Contributing to the debate, Sen. Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi), described the suffering of Nigerian migrants in Libya as “a stain on our national conscience”.
While Sen. Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra) condemned Africa’s silence over the abuses.
“We are members of the African Union, yet Africans are treating fellow Africans without respect.
“The AU must act, no country should be allowed to get away with such cruelty.”
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Sen. Bassey for bringing the motion to light and directed the Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor the implementation of the resolutions.
Akpabio urged youths to take caution and be guided by patriotism.
“Home is home. Many who leave in search of greener pastures only find pain abroad.
“Let us build our nation together, for there is no greater pride than being safe and free in one’s homeland,” he said.(NAN)
