The Nigerian Senate has mandated a comprehensive inquiry into travel firms suspected of orchestrating human trafficking schemes and facilitating the mistreatment of citizens traveling through Libya.
The legislative action comes roughly a month after an undercover report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) exposed harrowing conditions endured by African migrants traversing the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea, detailing rampant sexual violence, starvation, fatalities, and modern servitude.
Lawmakers issued the directive following the adoption of a joint committee report examining the plight of Nigerian migrants trapped in North Africa. Under the resolution, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) will spearhead a multi-agency probe alongside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The joint investigative team has been tasked with scrutinizing shady travel agencies to expose recruitment rings, illicit cash flows, and transit itineraries tied to exploitation networks in Libya. Additionally, the upper chamber advocated for increased statutory funding for NAPTIP to support victim rehabilitation and legal proceedings, alongside calls for stricter application and possible revision of both the 2015 Trafficking in Persons Act and the 2003 Child Rights Act.
The push for governmental intervention stems from a September three-part series by FIJ founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo. Posing as an irregular traveler, Soyombo undertook a perilous 47-day crossing from Kano through northern Niger hubs like Zinder, Agadez, and Dirkou, eventually navigating through Libyan transit points such as al Gatrun and Sabha en route to Tripoli.
To amplify his findings and deter prospective travelers, Soyombo launched a multimedia campaign titled ’10 reasons not to go to Libya,’ distributing explanatory video clips across major social media networks. He further highlighted the dangers of desert migration during interviews on several national networks, including Arise TV, News Central, and Sahara TV, as well as on the popular podcast ‘I Said What I Said.’
The findings have also been translated into a visual showcase titled ‘Desserts from the Desert,’ which debuted in Lagos at Alliance Française in late October. The exhibition is scheduled to hold subsequent presentations in Abuja before heading overseas for viewings in Washington, D.C., California, and Vienna.
