Tahrib: A dangerous lure taking Kenyan youths into Libyan dungeons

Concerns are growing over an increasing number of youth from North Eastern region falling prey to human trafficking networks offering a false promise of a brighter life in Europe.

The migrants end up in Libya and other North African countries were they are detained and kept for ransom and only released after their family pay huge amounts of money for their safe return.

Dozens of young people from Mandera, Wajir and Garissa are languishing in detention camps in the North African country after crossing dangerous routes in the migrant journeys. Driven by poverty and the promise of a better life awaiting them in European countries, many continue to be lured by smugglers and traffickers who later turn their life into desperation actions of survival.

Locally Known as Tahrib, the human trafficking syndicate have seen many youth disappearing from their homes after being lured by the false promise of jobs, education and safe passage to Europe.

Some families eager to take their children to Europe have also sold their prized possessions such as land to fund for the journeys only to fall into heartbreaking extortionist schemes.

Faceless agents are using social media platform such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Tik Tok to lure unsuspecting young people desperately seeking job opportunities abroad. The traffickers promise a smooth and easy journey to Libya and onward transfer to Europe.

The traffickers use overland routes from North Eastern to South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt and onwards to Libya. Another route goes through Uganda, South Sudan and taking the journey to Libya through Sudan and Egypt.

Upon arrival in Libya, the traffickers hand over their victims to smugglers and militia groups who are sent to detention facilities where along with migrants from other African countries go through harrowing situations of tortures and deplorable inhumane conditions.

After being detained, most are forced to provide a family member’s phone number. The detainee is filmed while being tortured—burned, beaten, or electrocuted—in order to pressure their relatives into sending ransom money.

It is a painful episode which is taking a toll among families from the region. “My life drastically changed when I learnt of the horrible conditions of my son who was undergoing torture,” said Halima mother to 21-year-old Hassan Muhammad Mumin. The kidnappers demanded US$ 20,000 for his release and sent the family a video of Hassan undergoing torture while pleading with his family to raise the amount. “We are now going door to door to beg for money to see our son released,” she said with teary eyes.

Others are forced to sell off their treasured belonging like family homes and jewellery to raise money to pay the ransom in a desperate effort to release their loved ones

The vice has attracted concerns from national, local and community leaders who have called for urgent multi-sectorial approaches to address the problem. “These are not isolated cases of disappearances. This is organized, cross border human trafficking our most vulnerable youth,” said Interior Cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen when he appeared before the National Assembly Security Committee. Lagdera MP Abdikadir Hussein has urged the government to intervene in the human trafficking syndicate to ensure it is brought to an end. “These criminals are targeting our most vulnerable — our youth — luring them with false promises, only to exploit and subject them to untold suffering. As leaders, we sometimes feel helpless when we see these things happening,” he said during Jukwa la Usalama meeting in Garissa last week.

“Your intervention will send a clear message to the perpetrators and to the public at large that the government will not sit back and watch while our young people are being stolen from us like is currently happening,” he said as he appealed for intervention from the Interior CS to curb the vice.

“We need urgent actions to address this problem. I believe we must have an awareness campaign as soon as possible to address the rising cases of Tahrib,” said Garissa Senator Abdi Haji during a public forum recently as he called on parents, religious and community leaders to be vigilant and address the growing threat.

On his part, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi called on parents to take extra measures to closely monitor the whereabouts of their children. “The menace is rampant. Parents must know their children whereabouts. We are losing a generation entire generation to lies and exploitation,” he said.

“These young people are vulnerable after high school. They don’t know what to do next. That’s exactly when traffickers strike. They need to be given a purpose and path,” said Garissa-based counselling psychologist Amina Issa.

During the commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in August, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) called for a multi –sectorial approach to urgently tackle the vice. “We need actors including the police, religious leaders, civil society organizations to work together and address this problem. If we don’t embrace multi-agency coordination, defeating the vice will be a tall order,” said Linda Mwanburi, the Garissa division head said.

She said with trafficking syndicates continuing to adapt and evolve, there is need for strategic efforts to protect the vulnerable population and safeguard them from exploitation.

Once a prosperous country with among the highest per income capital in Africa, Libya descended into civil strife and lawlessness after the overthrow of its leader Muammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country is now known to harbor armed groups including foreign mercenaries who engage in human trafficking, forced labour and abuse of migrants from several African countries who see the country a springboard for the journey to Europe through the Mediterranean sea.