The family of 21-year-old Halimat Eniola Adeshewa, also known as Halima Shalewa, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya to urgently intervene in securing her release from alleged illegal detention in Tripoli, Libya.

Halima, who left Nigeria in 2022 through the arrangement of a woman identified as Funmi, worked under her sponsor for over a year before gaining some independence and moving to Misrata. There, she reportedly supported herself through menial jobs, including work in hospitals.

Her mother told SaharaReporters that Halima was arrested in November 2023 while visiting friends at an eatery in Tripoli. She was reportedly detained without formal charges or access to legal counsel. The family has described the arrest as illegal and arbitrary.

The distressed mother explained that contact with Halima was lost for months until a woman named Peace, based in Tripoli, began visiting her at the prison weekly and relaying messages back home.

“She was arrested along with others. We’ve tried everything to secure her release, but we don’t have the money embassy officials are asking for,” her mother said.

He added that her daughter’s health and safety are now major concerns,  appealing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Libya, and relevant international bodies to urgently investigate the circumstances of Halima’s detention and facilitate her release.

This incident adds to the growing number of Nigerian migrants facing abuse, exploitation, and arbitrary detention in Libya, a trend that continues to alarm human rights groups globally.