ADVERTISEMENT

West African migrants being sold as slaves in open markets – UN Agency

Survivors told the IOM that the modern day slave trade had become so normal that people were being sold openly.

___6513853___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6513853___2017___4___11___13___News

“The latest reports of ‘slave markets’ for migrants can be added to a long list of outrages [in Libya],” IOM’s Head of Operation and Emergencies, Mohammed Abdiker told The Guardian.

“The situation is dire. The more IOM engages inside Libya, the more we learn that it is a vale of tears for all too many migrants,” he added.

Many migrants pass through Libya in a bid to enter Europe by boat through the Mediterranean Sea.

One survivor from Senegal said a bus driver, who was meant to smuggle a group of intending migrants to the coast, put his passengers up for sale because the middlemen hadn’t paid his fees.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The men on the pick-up were brought to a square, or parking lot, where a kind of slave trade was happening. There were locals – he described them as Arabs – buying sub-Saharan migrants,” an IOM officer based in Niger, Livia Manante said.

Manante said further that the existence of the open slave markets was confirmed by other migrants whom she interviewed.

“Several other migrants confirmed his story, independently describing kinds of slave markets as well as kinds of private prisons all over in Libya,” Manente said.

“IOM Italy has confirmed that this story is similar to many stories reported by migrants and collected at landing points in southern Italy, including the slave market reports. This gives more evidence that the stories reported are true, as the stories of those who managed to cross-match those who are returning back to their countries,” she added.

Former head of the British Embassy Office in Benghazi, Joseph Walker-Cousins warned, in March ,that more than 1million migrants are ‘in the pipeline’ in Libya hoping to cross to Europe.

ADVERTISEMENT

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.

IOM became an agency of the United Nations in September 2016.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Tinubu upgrades Speaker Abbas' national honour to GCON after pressure from Reps

Tinubu upgrades Speaker Abbas' national honour to GCON after pressure from Reps

I'm extremely pained - Buhari reacts to fatal boat accident in Niger

I'm extremely pained - Buhari reacts to fatal boat accident in Niger

My wife's death won't disrupt governance in Akwa Ibom - Governor Eno

My wife's death won't disrupt governance in Akwa Ibom - Governor Eno

You can't speak for the North, Doguwa bashes Kwankwaso for criticising Tinubu

You can't speak for the North, Doguwa bashes Kwankwaso for criticising Tinubu

Taraba renames remodelled government house after T.Y. Danjuma

Taraba renames remodelled government house after T.Y. Danjuma

Tunji-Ojo tackles stagnation in NIS as 13,977 senior, junior officers get promotion

Tunji-Ojo tackles stagnation in NIS as 13,977 senior, junior officers get promotion

Police release detained #FearlessInOctober protesters after meeting Sowore

Police release detained #FearlessInOctober protesters after meeting Sowore

Falana writes IGP, calls for peace in Rivers amid tension-soaked LG elections

Falana writes IGP, calls for peace in Rivers amid tension-soaked LG elections

Tinubu urged to probe PDP governor over suspected terrorism links

Tinubu urged to probe PDP governor over suspected terrorism links

Pulse Sports

Ejuke lives up to 'new Jay Jay' nickname, beats Ghana's Kudus, Mbappe to impressive stat

Ejuke lives up to 'new Jay Jay' nickname, beats Ghana's Kudus, Mbappe to impressive stat

Top 10 most beautiful track athletes: Sha'Carri Richardson, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Junelle Bromfield make gorgeous 2024 list

Top 10 most beautiful track athletes: Sha'Carri Richardson, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Junelle Bromfield make gorgeous 2024 list

'There are few players like me' — Victor Osimhen insists he's worth €100million

'There are few players like me' — Victor Osimhen insists he's worth €100million

Engagement Photos? Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield stun in gorgeous new photos wearing matching outfits

'No congratulations, nothing' - Noah Lyles girlfriend Junelle Bromfield slams Jamaicans' poor Olympic final reception to Kishane Thompson

'No congratulations, nothing' - Noah Lyles girlfriend Junelle Bromfield slams Jamaicans' poor Olympic final reception to Kishane Thompson

Watch Asisat Oshoala score winning penalty for Bay FC against Seattle Reign

Watch Asisat Oshoala score winning penalty for Bay FC against Seattle Reign

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT