After the revelation, authorities from the Nigerian mission in Jordan, which is in charge of Iraq, intervened and took action on Odunayo’s situation, which led to her anticipated return to Nigeria.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
It is now anticipated that Odunayo Eniola Isaac, a 28-year-old Nigerian lady who was trafficked to Iraq, will return to her home country.
After her experience in the Middle Eastern nation was covered by SaharaReporters, she is anticipated to return to Nigeria today, Friday, January 3, 2025. After the revelation, authorities from the Nigerian mission in Jordan, which is in charge of Iraq, intervened and took action on Odunayo’s situation, which led to her anticipated return to Nigeria.
SaharaReporters exclusively revealed in December 2024 that Odunayo, a native of Osun State in the southwest of Nigeria, made a heartbreaking and painful request for help to return to Nigeria.
Alhaja Yusuf Shakira, also referred to as Mama Uganda, is accused of engaging in human trafficking, bringing Odunayo to Iraq under false pretenses of a better life. Odunayo’s emotional and mental health were seriously damaged when she was subjected to cruel physical torture, degrading dehumanization, and nearly two years of cruel treatment by her Iraqi boss, Saba Akram, and his wife.
Desperate and hopeless, she sounded the alarm and pleaded with Nigerian officials to allow her to return to Nigeria immediately, or else she would perish. Odunayo expressed how desperate she was, saying that her life would be in danger if she stayed in Iraq for even a few time longer.
Through the Nigerian human rights advocacy group Hopes Haven Foundation, Odunayo told SaharaReporters about her experience of being trafficked to Iraq by Alhaja Shakira a year and ten months prior via an Iraqi organization called Blend Warani, promising her a job.
At one point, Odunayo’s employer’s wife tried to kill her with an iron rod and boiling water, but she barely made it to the closest police station, according to Odunayo, who was at the Iraqi immigration when she spoke briefly with SaharaReporters and confirmed that she was still alive. She claims that she departed Nigeria in February 2023 to work in Iraq as a domestic helper.
Odunayo endured appalling and cruel working circumstances upon her arrival in Iraq, including unreasonably long workdays of up to 20 hours. Her employer, Saba Akram, and his wife allegedly subjected her to harsh and ongoing physical torture, which made matters worse.
Tasers and metal rods were allegedly used by the pair as part of their cruel tactics to physically injure Odunayo and coerce him into obedience. Odunayo endured emotional and psychological suffering in addition to the physical violence. She claimed that when her employer confiscated her phone, she was essentially cut off from her friends and family.
Because of this intentional seclusion, she was unable to express her anguish and requests for assistance to anyone who might be able to help her. She claims that even though she was being held captive in the residence and repeatedly tortured and threatened with death, her boss falsely accused her of fleeing in July 2023.
SaharaReporters was informed by Abdulrahman Balogun, Head of the Media Unit at NiDCOM, that Odunayo was returning to Nigeria. According to him, Odunayo left Baghdad at 5 p.m. on Thursday on Egyptair for Cairo, and she was supposed to reach Cairo by 6.10 a.m. on Friday. From there, she would travel to Nigeria. Odunayo is scheduled to fly from Cairo to Abuja on Friday at 9 a.m. and is anticipated to reach Abuja by 1:30 p.m. via Egyptair, according to NiDCOM.
Another Nigerian who traveled to work in Iraq as a carer and was slain under mysterious circumstances is also being looked into, according to Balogun. The Nigerian government has called for an autopsy to determine the victim’s cause of death.
Balogun said, “NiDCOM hereby warns that unscrupulous agents are now wickedly luring young Nigerian women to Iraq with fake and evil promises, most of which portend danger to the mostly unsuspecting victims who are lured into slavery and prostitution once they get to the country.” NiDCOM has issued warnings to Nigerians about being duped by operatives in Iraq and other nations, Balogun continued.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
