Hoping for “ransom”… Repeated incidents of “kidnapping children” raise concerns in Libya

The Office of the Public Prosecutor in Libya declared the “liberation” of three-year-old Muhammad Amhamed, who had been kidnapped by a group demanding a $20,000 ransom from his family. The Libyan Public Prosecution stated that law enforcement authorities in Benghazi successfully apprehended the perpetrators and dismantled the network responsible for the abduction. This development comes amidst heightened concern in Libya following the circulation of a distressing video showing the child subjected to physical abuse and threats by the kidnappers.

This incident is not isolated, as Libya has grappled with similar cases of child abduction in recent years. In March, the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of a suspect involved in the kidnapping of a four-year-old child in Zliten, with the aim of extorting a ransom of $100,000 from the family. Another poignant case is that of Mustafa Al-Barkoli, who vanished from his family’s home in Sebha in April 2021 and reappeared after over a year in captivity, with his captors demanding a staggering ransom of one million dollars.

The prevalence of security challenges in Libya has created an environment conducive to the emergence of criminal networks specializing in the abduction of children for ransom, according to the Aswat Magharebia website. Disturbing statistics indicate a rise in such incidents, with reports suggesting that children kidnapped in previous years were released only after their families paid hefty sums to the perpetrators.

These troubling trends have prompted concerns from various quarters, including human rights organizations and governmental bodies, about the welfare and future prospects of children in Libya. There are fears that armed militias and other groups may exploit vulnerable children to bolster their ranks or extract financial gain. The Minister of Education in the National Unity Government, Musa al-Magarif, has highlighted a concerning trend of male teachers abandoning their profession to join armed groups in pursuit of monetary incentives.

Despite these grave concerns, Walid Al-Arfi, the Director of the Media Office of the Criminal Investigation Department, refuted reports circulating on social media regarding recent child abductions in Benghazi. Al-Arfi emphasized the absence of official complaints or reports regarding such incidents and urged citizens to promptly report any suspected cases of child abduction or disappearance to law enforcement authorities.