Senator Natasha urges FG to get Nigerian women of Libya prisons

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District has called on the Federal Government to work through the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Correctional Service to get Nigerian women in Libyan prisons and repartriate them back home.

She said Nigerian women have been subjected to sex slaves, thus giving birth to children without fathers while in detention in Libyan prisons, adding that that Nigeria authorities should get them back with “their innocent children” who are behind bars in Libya.

The lawmaker stated this on Tuesday during a plenary on a motion sponsored by Senator Etim Bassey Aniekan, “on the urgent need to protect Nigerians from trafficking, slavery, and human rights abuses in Libya.”

Nigerians have been victims of human trafficking, slavery, and human rights abuses, especially travelling in guise of looking for greener pastures.

According to her, many of the Nigerian women currently languishing in Libyan prisons were victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation who fled captivity, only to face further abuse while in detention.

“The Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Correctional Service should liaise with the Libyan Prison Authorities to repatriate Nigerian female prisoners and their children who were born in Libyan prisons,” she said.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that several of the women were subjected to sexual assault by prison officials, leading to pregnancies and childbirths within prison walls.

“These innocent children are of Nigerian descent and should not be made to suffer for circumstances beyond their control,” she added.

The motion received backing from the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who seconded the additional prayer.