In Libya, thousands of Africans and Nigerians are being sold into slavery

When you think about the slave trade, your mind goes to Kunta Kinte and how he was shipped to America and endured a lifetime of slavery.

We think slavery doesn't exist in these modern times How wrong. Not only does slavery still exist it is happening here in America.

Several Nigerians who were desperate to get to Europe by any means possible are now slaves in Libya.

Migrants in Libya

 

Nigerians and other citizens from Africa countries are being auctioned in slave markets in Libya. The North African country serves as a passage to Africans who want to get to Europe. From Libya, they take a boat to Europe if they don't drown in the sea.

Some Nigerians are kidnapped by smugglers and sold in slave markets. They demand ransom from the families of these Nigerians and if they cannot pay they are sold as slaves.

Slave trade in Libya

 

"Apparently they don’t have money and their families cannot pay the ransom, so they are being sold to get at least a minimum benefit from that,” said Othman Belbeisi, who is the International Organization for Migration's chief of mission for Libya.

These Nigerians and other Africans are sold in public and parking spaces report the BBC. "People are purchased for between $200 and $500 and are held on average for two or three months" Belbeisi further said.

There is a booming slave trade market in Libya

 

Women have it a whole lot worse as many of them are raped and forced into prostitution.

"Migrants who go to Libya while trying to get to Europe, have no idea of the torture archipelago that awaits them just over the border. There they become commodities to be bought, sold and discarded when they have no more value" said Leonard Doyle the chief spokesman of IOM