Libyan authorities have arrested a Nigerian woman and her Ghanaian husband in Tripoli over allegations that they tortured and starved an orphaned child to death, a case that has sparked outrage both locally and on social media.
The couple was taken into custody on Wednesday, January 7, 2025, according to reports by Libya Observer, with police confirming that investigations are ongoing.
Security sources said the suspects are accused of subjecting the child to prolonged maltreatment, including physical abuse and deliberate starvation, which allegedly led to his death.
Investigators are also probing the circumstances under which the child came into the couple’s care. Reports indicate that the boy’s mother died about two years ago in Libya under what authorities have described as questionable circumstances, after which the child was left in the custody of the now-arrested couple.
Libyan officials have yet to release the identities of the suspects or formally announce the specific charges they may face, citing the sensitivity of the investigation. Authorities say more details will be made public once preliminary findings are concluded.
Following news of the arrest, several social media users claimed to know the couple and identified them as a Nigerian woman and her Ghanaian husband. One commenter wrote that he knew the man personally, while another appeared to identify the woman by name, expressing shock over the allegations.
The incident has also drawn strong reactions from human rights advocates. Anti-human trafficking activist Yakubu Oyiza Hope described the case as deeply disturbing, saying it was one of those stories that was difficult to process emotionally.
She noted that information available so far suggests the child had already been vulnerable following his mother’s death, making the alleged abuse even more troubling. Oyiza welcomed the action taken by Libyan authorities, calling for justice to be served.
As investigations continue, the case has renewed calls for stronger protections for vulnerable children, particularly migrants and orphans, within Libya and across the region.
