Libyan authorities have arrested five Nigerian nationals in connection with an alleged prostitution ring operating in the Salmani area of Benghazi city.
This was made known in a statement released by Migrant Rescue Watch on Wednesday.
The arrests, which included one man and four women, one of whom was with a child, were carried out by officers from the Ras Abidah Police Department following complaints from residents about suspicious activities linked to undocumented migrants.
“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 op police arrested 1 male and 4 females (1 with child) of Nigerian nationality. All referred to DCIM for legal action,” Migrant Rescue Watch stated via its official communication channel.
The police operation reportedly targeted a residential building suspected of being used as a brothel by irregular migrants. Authorities said the raid was prompted by increased public concern over the growing presence of prostitution-related activities in the community.
All five individuals have since been handed over to the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Libya, a key transit point for migrants seeking to cross into Europe, has faced ongoing challenges with irregular migration, human trafficking, and exploitation of vulnerable individuals. This latest arrest highlighted the complex intersection of migration, legality, and public order in a country grappling with internal instability and migration pressures.
No additional details have been released regarding the identities of the suspects or the welfare of the child involved.
