80,000 Nigerians living abroad have been reported to have been held as sex slaves and laborers as said by the House of Representatives.
The Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora, Tolu Akande-Sadipe on Thursday during the plenary made it known that so many Nigerians are in countries like Lebanon, Mali and across the Middle East working as sex slaves.
READ ALSO
She condemed the act and said the Foreign Affairs Ministry, under the guise of diplomacy, is planning to release alleged Lebanese trafficker identified as Wafic Mohammed Hamze.
Hamze was responsible for the trafficking of about 16 Nigerians to Lebanon to become sex slaves.
According to Tolu, she said;
“Records show that Wafic Hamza was complicit in the trafficking of 16 girls. 10 have been repatriated to Nigeria, some remain stranded in Lebanon.
“Hamze is in custody in Ilorin, Kwara State, awaiting trial for trafficking. But it appears that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working for his release without any regard for our citizens losses, their repatriation back home and compensation.”
“The ongoing sordid dehumanizing treatment foisted on Nigerians abroad particularly trafficked girls under the cover of foreign domestic staff has become very disturbing.
“According to NAPTIP, in the past one year, there has been an alarming number of daily distress calls from Nigerian women crying to be rescued due to the inhumane conditions they face in countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Oman, Lebanon, and Mali.”
The legislator raised a motion, requiring the parliament to look into the eradication of trafficking and maltreatment of citizens in foreign land.
She also added that the president should take a bold step in sanctioning the Minister and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, for violating suspension of the issuance of International Recruiters Licenses.
Proceeding and concluded her report to the house, she raised the alarm of some stranded student in Turkey who could not afford cost of evacuation flight, saying the House of Reps should please reason with Foreign Affairs Ministry to negotiate affordable flights for nationals abroad and oversea.
