“Slave market in Libya, a blight on the conscience of humanity. ”
The Senegalese President Macky Sall has described the slave trade in Libya as despicable, criminal and blight on the conscience of humanity.
Speaking at the second ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Tuesday, President Macky Sall condemned the upsurge in maltreatment and sales of African migrants as slaves in Libya, and called for the prosecution of the perpetrators of the act.
Sall who expressed outrage at the "ominous act" said investigations have revealed the dehumanization and sales of African migrants in Libya, urging that necessary steps be taken to put an end to what he termed," despicable trade"
"I understand that our reactions to this act takes some times. This is so because we need time to carry out an investigation and findings. Our investigation has revealed that what is happening in Libya is real.
"In the next few days, we will be holding summit in Cote d’lvoire which will give us the opportunity to deliberate on the issue and develop modalities to put an end to this criminal act against humanity," he said.
According to International Organization for Migration, more than 8,800 migrants have been repatriated from Libya this year.
Earlier, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who was represented by the Deputy President of the Senate and former speaker of the Assembly, Senator Ike Ekweremadu called for a renewed commitment by member states to address myriad of challenges ranging from hunger, terrorism and environmental degradation bedevilling the regions.
He also urged the Assembly to seize the opportunity of the newly acquired and hard won legislative powers to defeat forces militating against the peace and development of West Africa.
While commending the member states for their unwavering supports, Saraki reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the implementation of the various protocols aimed at achieving greater regional integration.
"We have many challenges still. Hunger and famine, terrorism and insecurity, ’ environmental degradation, displacement and humanitarian crises these are some of the challenges we face in the sub-region.
"The Lake Chad region is currently the scene of the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world, with millions displaced and whole populations threatened by hunger and famine. Nigeria’s North East region has been devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency, West African citizens are being sold into modern day slavery, and desperate children of the sub-region are dying tragically on the Mediterranean Sea.
"Let me reiterate Nigeria’s commitment to the implementation of the various protocols aimed at achieving greater regional integration. We will also channel our energies to the effective utilisation of the ECOWAS Parliament’s legislative powers. Our commitment to the integration, unity and progress of the ECOWAS region is unwavering," he said.