The Senate has called on the Tinubu administration to intervene in evacuating hundreds of Nigerian women and children languishing in notorious Libyan prisons, where reports of abuse, starvation, and forced labor persist.
The Senate passed a motion on Tuesday, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP/Benue South), urging the Tinubu administration to collaborate with the United Nations and Libyan authorities for their urgent repatriation.
Sen. Moro, who chairs the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, highlighted the plight of over 200 Nigerians, predominantly women and minors, detained in facilities like the infamous Tawergha and Zintan centers, often on charges of irregular migration.
Read also:
Gov. Oborevwori orders revocation of DELSU Senate building contract
Senate mulls poverty alleviation commission
Resolve security in 6 weeks or face impeachment, Senate Minority Caucus threatens Buhari
“This is a matter of life and death,” Sen. Moro declared while moving the motion, 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,” he argued.
The motion received support, with Sen. 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,” Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan noted.
She referenced a September 2025 video circulated on social media showing distressed Nigerian women pleading for help from hiding spots in Tripoli.
Contributing to the debate on the motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the executive must activate diplomatic channels without delay to rescue the Nigerian women and children. “We’ve seen successful evacuations before; this cannot be another forgotten crisis,” he said.
The Senate’s resolution also called for enhanced border security in Nigeria to curb irregular migration from states like Edo, where smuggling networks lure vulnerable youths with tales of prosperity.
