Shocking pictures of Nigerians and other Africans held captive and sold as slaves in Libya

Today, there was a story about Nigerians who are being held captive and sold as slaves in Libya, but it turns out it isn't only Nigerians who are victims.

A South African has taken to Twitter to raise awareness about the modern day slavery taking place in Libya, of which South Africans have fallen victim. Nigerians, South Africans, and citizens of various other countries in Africa, in their search for greener pastures, try to cross over to Europe by going through Libya but they never make it there.

Most of them end up being captured and sold as slaves. While in captivity, they are kept in dehumanizing conditions and maltreated. Some are sold so that their body organs can be harvested and sold, while some end up being killed. A lot of them are used as sex slaves, including the men who get raped by other men. There are 1 to 2 auctions every month where buyers come to assess captives and make their choice.

The crime against humanity was brought to light after CNN published the report of an investigation they carried out last week. A CNN team traveled to Libya and witnessed a dozen men being sold for as little as $400 each. And the slave traders do not lack men and women because according to reports, thousands of migrants have arrived in Libya in recent years in a desperate bid to travel the central Mediterranean route to Europe. The International Organization for Migration estimates there are currently between 700,000 and a million migrants stuck in the country.

Since the CNN report, Libya has opened an investigation into the slave markets. The probe is being overseen by the government's Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency.