There was an awkward moment in the Senate on Tuesday when lawmakers initially refused to second a motion by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan calling for the repatriation of Nigerian women allegedly abused in Libyan prisons.
The motion, presented during deliberations on the plight of Nigerian migrants in Libya, sought Senate intervention to rescue women said to be suffering severe human rights violations.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that several Nigerian women were being sexually assaulted by prison officials and even forced to bear children while in detention. She urged the Senate to direct the Nigerian Immigration Service to collaborate with Libyan authorities for their safe return.
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However, after she presented her motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio asked for a seconder—a standard parliamentary procedure—but none of the senators, including the women in the chamber, responded. The silence that followed reportedly left the chamber tense and uneasy.
After several moments of hesitation, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele eventually rose to second the motion, allowing discussions to proceed.
Later reports suggests that the motion was later unanimously adopted with the Senate directing the federal government to enhance diplomatic efforts and collaborate with the International Organization for Migration for the women’s repatriation and rehabilitation.
The incident has since drawn public attention, with many questioning the lawmakers’ reluctance to support a motion aimed at protecting vulnerable Nigerian women abroad.
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