Senate Urges Swift Repatriation of Nigerians Detained in Libya, Calls for National Campaign Against Irregular Migration
Story: written Daniel October 15,2025
The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward the immediate repatriation and rehabilitation of Nigerians stranded in Libya, many of whom are victims of human trafficking, torture, and other human rights abuses.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion titled “Urgent Need to Protect Nigerians from Trafficking, Slavery, and Human Rights Abuses in Libya,” sponsored by Senator Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Bassey expressed alarm over the deteriorating conditions of Nigerians held in Libyan detention centres, revealing that over 1,000 citizens were returned home in the first quarter of 2025 — most of them survivors of sexual violence, forced labour, and organ trafficking.
“These are people who left in search of a better life but ended up in unimaginable suffering. We must act urgently to protect others from the same fate,” he said.
Lawmakers Demand Awareness Campaign
Contributing to the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) stressed the need for a nationwide sensitisation campaign against irregular migration, especially to unstable regions like Libya.
“We must use the National Orientation Agency and other relevant bodies to educate our citizens. Since Gaddafi’s fall, Libya is no longer a land of opportunity — it is a war-torn trap,” Oshiomhole warned.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) proposed an amendment urging the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Correctional Service to work with Libyan authorities to secure the release of Nigerian women and children born in detention.
“These women have been victimised twice — by traffickers and by a broken system. Their children must not be punished for circumstances beyond their control,” she stated.
Calls for Diplomatic and Humanitarian Action
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) condemned the inhumane treatment of Nigerians across parts of Africa, calling it “a betrayal of the continent’s shared values.” He urged both the Federal Government and the African Union (AU) to intervene decisively.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio appealed to young Nigerians to shun irregular migration, warning that the dangers far outweigh the perceived benefits.
“Home is home. Let’s build our nation together, because there is no greater pride than being safe and free in one’s homeland,” Akpabio said.
He cited the case of Mercy Olugbenga, a young woman who sold her family property to travel to Libya but ended up detained for over a year, where she was allegedly subjected to forced blood extractions.
Senate’s Directives
After deliberations, the Senate urged the Federal Government to:
- Repatriate all Nigerians trapped in Libyan camps through coordinated action by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NAPTIP, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
- Establish a comprehensive reintegration programme for returnees — including psychological support, vocational training, and start-up grants to help them rebuild their lives.
- Collaborate with the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the United Nations to secure the safe return and protection of Nigerians still held abroad.
Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) described the situation as a “repeated stain on Nigeria’s conscience,” urging stronger institutional frameworks to curb human trafficking and illegal migration.
The Senate’s unanimous call underscores growing concern over the plight of Nigerians stranded abroad and the urgent need for coordinated diplomatic, humanitarian, and educational responses to end the cycle of exploitation.
