Libyan security officials have arrested five Nigerian nationals—including four women and one man—on charges linked to prostitution-related activities in Benghazi. The arrests, which took place during a police raid in the Salmani district, were carried out by officers from the Ras Abidah Police Department in response to mounting public complaints.
One of the detained women was reported to be in custody with her child.
Police Operation Triggered by Local Reports
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Migrant Rescue Watch, the law enforcement operation was initiated following a wave of complaints from residents in the Salmani neighborhood. Locals had raised concerns about suspicious activities believed to involve undocumented migrants engaged in prostitution.
Acting on these reports, the Ras Abidah Police Department raided a residential property in the area. The premises were suspected to have been used as a brothel by migrants operating illegally within the country. During the raid, five Nigerian nationals were found at the location and were taken into custody without resistance.
Suspects Referred to Immigration Authorities
Following their arrest, the individuals were transferred to the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), a government agency tasked with handling immigration violations, human trafficking, and related offenses in Libya.
The official statement from Migrant Rescue Watch read:
“Libya 20.06.25 – Ras Abidah Police Dept., in response to public complaints, raided a house in Salmani area (Benghazi) used by migrants for prostitution. During the operation, police arrested one male and four females (one with a child) of Nigerian nationality. All were referred to DCIM for legal action.”
Libya’s Ongoing Struggles with Irregular Migration
Libya remains a central route for many African migrants, including Nigerians, seeking passage to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. However, amid the ongoing political instability and fragile security environment, many migrants in Libya find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions, often lacking legal protection.
Human rights groups have long raised concerns about the vulnerability of migrants in Libya, including the risks of trafficking, sexual exploitation, and detention under poor conditions. With limited access to legal support and humanitarian aid, many undocumented migrants find themselves caught in criminal networks or subjected to arbitrary arrests.
Rising Incidents of Exploitation and Crime
This latest incident in Benghazi adds to a growing list of criminal cases involving foreign nationals and highlights the increasingly complex intersection between migration and security concerns in Libya. Prostitution rings, particularly those involving vulnerable migrant populations, have become more visible in some urban areas, prompting police crackdowns.
It remains unclear whether the individuals arrested were involved voluntarily or were victims of trafficking and exploitation—a common occurrence in the region. International organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have frequently documented cases of African migrants being lured to Libya under false pretenses, only to be coerced into sex work or other forms of labor exploitation.
Call for Consular Intervention and Humanitarian Review
The Nigerian government has yet to comment publicly on the arrests. However, advocates for migrant rights have urged Nigerian authorities and consular officials in Libya to intervene and ensure that the rights of their nationals are protected.
Experts say it is critical for Nigerian diplomatic missions to engage with Libyan authorities, verify the identities and conditions of the arrested individuals, and determine whether any were victims of trafficking. There are growing calls for a full investigation to uncover whether the suspects were coerced or manipulated into prostitution and to provide assistance—especially for the woman arrested with a child.
Broader Implications
The situation once again underscores the dire conditions many migrants face in Libya, where weak legal structures, armed groups, and economic collapse have created an environment ripe for exploitation. As international efforts to address irregular migration continue to stall, migrants—particularly women and children—remain at high risk.
With hundreds of thousands of sub-Saharan Africans currently in Libya under precarious legal and humanitarian conditions, cases like this highlight the urgent need for regional cooperation, enhanced protection frameworks, and more humane migration policies.
For now, the five Nigerians remain in custody under the authority of the DCIM, where their legal status and any further proceedings remain unclear.
