A young Nigerian lady, Odunayo Eniola Isaac, has made a heartbreaking plea for assistance after enduring inhumane treatment, physical torture, and dehumanization in Iraq.
Odunayo, who hails from Osun State, was reportedly trafficked by Alhaja Yusuf Shakira, also known as Mama Uganda, under the guise of a better life abroad. Upon her arrival, she faced grueling working conditions, including working up to 20 hours daily without pay.
“I was locked inside the house where I was working, and my phone was seized. They seized my passport, all my clothes, and everything,” Odunayo lamented.
“I was constantly beaten with iron rods and was always made to work from 6 a.m. to 3 or 4 a.m. the following day. I hardly slept for more than three or four hours daily.”
After a frantic search, her family located her and sought help from Hopes Haven Foundation, a human rights advocacy organization. The foundation has since contacted the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, urging immediate action.
In their letter, the foundation expressed outrage:
“We are deeply outraged that a Nigerian citizen, in pursuit of a livelihood, was subjected to such gross violations of human dignity and labor rights.
“We hereby appeal to your esteemed office to: Ensure the recovery of all salaries owed to Odunayo and demand compensation for her medical expenses and the psychological damage caused by this ordeal.”
Meanwhile, Alhaja Shakira, the alleged trafficker, has denied the accusations. When contacted, she claimed health issues prevented her from addressing the matter, saying, “I am experiencing drowsiness and weakness due to my high blood pressure condition.”
Reports indicate that Alhaja Shakira had previously claimed her travel agency license was obtained from the Nigerian government, which she allegedly used to traffic young boys and girls abroad.
When contacted, NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye denied prior knowledge of the case. “I am just hearing this from you now. Since you said an NGO had written to us about it, get in touch with the NGO, let’s have a copy of the letter they wrote that they sent to us,” he said.
After receiving the letter from Hopes Haven Foundation, Adekoye acknowledged the matter, saying, “I will get back to you, please.”
The Head of Media Unit, Abdulrahman Balogun, confirmed the case as human trafficking and explained the agencies involved.
“She is a trafficked person, so NAPTIP handles the matter. Another agency is the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). Those are the two commissions assisting in such a case.”
Balogun also described how NiDCOM provides support for Nigerians in similar situations abroad:
“Even if we don’t have an embassy, we have Nigerians who form themselves into communities. There is something we call NIDO, Nigerians in the Diaspora Organization.
“We have been encouraging Nigerians to please belong to one group so that if there is a problem, the group will first rally around you and get in touch with us (NiDCOM).”
Odunayo’s plight stresses the urgent need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking and protect Nigerians abroad.
