Libyan security authorities have uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of 21 African migrants in Ajdabiya, eastern Libya, in what officials described as a grim case of human trafficking and ransom-related killings.
The discovery followed a raid carried out on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, by the Ajdabiya branch of the Internal Security Agency on a farm located on the outskirts of the city. The farm reportedly belonged to a Libyan human smuggler with a prior criminal record.
According to the agency, several migrants of different African nationalities were found alive at the location, where they were being held in a makeshift detention facility under harsh and degrading conditions while ransom was demanded from their families.
Investigators said the 21 victims whose remains were found in a mass grave were allegedly killed by the smuggler after their relatives failed to meet the ransom demands.
The suspect has since been arrested and handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents and human rights activists in the area, with many calling for the maximum penalty against those responsible, describing the killings as a grave crime against humanity.
Libya remains a major transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe, with human rights organisations repeatedly warning of widespread abuse, extortion, and violence perpetrated by traffickers and armed groups operating along migration routes.