I am a Single Mother of One, I Spent Four Months in Prison Before I Was Deported – Titi

(NOTE: Photo used for illustrative purposes only. Doesn’t represent the victim, Titi)

Titi, a victim of human trafficking, spent four harrowing months in a Libyan prison before she was finally deported back to Nigeria. According to a report by PUNCH, her journey began with a desperate hope for a better life abroad, only to face unimaginable suffering and abuse at the hands of traffickers and authorities in Libya. In 2022, she was lured by promises of a brighter future and a chance to provide for her child. After paying a broker for the opportunity, she traveled to Libya, only to be sold into slavery, forced to work under grueling conditions.

Her hopes for a better life quickly disintegrated as she found herself trapped in an oppressive environment. Titi’s nightmare escalated when she was arrested by Libyan police. Her neighbors, who had been involved in conflicts, reportedly called the authorities, leading to her detainment. The police swiftly handcuffed her and confiscated her phone before imprisoning her in a facility notorious for its inhumane conditions. During her time in the Libyan prison, Titi faced deplorable living standards. Food rations were scarce and inadequate, consisting only of rice with sauce in the morning and watery macaroni at night.

The meals left her weak and disoriented, with many prisoners collapsing from dizziness after eating. The constant mistreatment and lack of medical care compounded the suffering, leaving Titi feeling helpless and trapped.

She said: “I am a single mother of one. I spent four months in prison before I was deported. My friends tried to bail me out, but it was impossible. There are too many Nigerians in prison, and some have already lost their sanity. Some who were supposed to be deported couldn’t because they couldn’t sign the Terms and Conditions form.”