Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs The Voice of Reality.. The Eye of Humanitarian Truth in Somalia
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BENGHAZI — Libyan security authorities successfully executed a strategic raid, freeing over 200 migrants, mostly Somali nationals, held in a secret underground prison in the town of Kufra, southeastern Libya.
Reuters reported that authorities discovered cramped cells three meters below the surface, designed by traffickers to hold Somali migrants and others in inhumane conditions, hidden from the reach of law enforcement.
Security sources confirmed that some of the freed Somali migrants had spent nearly two years in those dark pits, subjected to severe violations described by local authorities as among the most heinous crimes against humanity recently uncovered in that border region.
Investigations cited by Reuters revealed that the prison was managed by a major human trafficker targeting migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa, intending to extort their families for ransom.
Reports indicate that the list of freed individuals included Somali women and children in critical health and psychological states due to prolonged confinement and abuse. They were transported for urgent medical care following the raid on the traffickers’ hideout.
This shocking discovery comes just days after Libyan authorities found a mass grave containing 21 bodies in nearby areas, reflecting the lethal risks Somali migrants face during their journey through Libya toward European shores.
Reuters noted that judicial authorities have begun prosecuting those involved in these criminal networks, with several defendants referred to trial on charges of committing gross violations against defenseless migrants and human trafficking.
Kufra, located 1,700 kilometers from Tripoli, experiences a massive influx of migrants and refugees, making it a hotspot for international smuggling gangs that exploit security gaps in the vast desert regions.
Security authorities concluded their statement by reaffirming their commitment to clearing the region of these secret prisons and protecting Somali migrants from extortion gangs, warning that the desert route is fraught with deadly dangers and mass graves.
