In a heart-wrenching revelation , Adeola Omotoso, the 41-year-old daughter of renowned Nollywood actress Jumoke George, has opened up about her traumatic experience after being declared missing for over four years.
Adeola, who was recently rescued and repatriated to Nigeria through the efforts of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), revealed that she was a victim of human trafficking and forced prostitution in Mali.
Her shocking disclosure came during a candid interview on the Talk to B podcast hosted by actress Biola Bayo.
According to Adeola, her ordeal began when she was lured with promises of better job opportunities abroad. “I met someone who convinced me that I could get a good job in a pharmacy in Mali. It sounded like a chance to improve my life, so I agreed without informing anyone,” she said.
Her journey to Mali, which spanned four harrowing days by road through Cotonou, Togo, Ghana, and other West African countries, ended in Bamako — but instead of the promised opportunity, she walked into a nightmare.“I called the contact I was given upon arrival.
When I got to the house, she told me bluntly that I had been sold for N250,000 by my sister and that I now belonged to her. She said I had to work as a prostitute to repay 1.5 million CFA.
That was when I realized I had been trafficked,” she recounted with a heavy heart.She spent time in captivity, surviving in brothels under dire conditions.
Her salvation came when she found employment with a food vendor — a glimmer of hope that ultimately became her lifeline.
With the support of concerned Nigerians and NIDCOM, Adeola was finally able to return home. Her mother, Jumoke George, had publicly mourned her daughter’s disappearance, unaware of the depth of the nightmare she had been enduring.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
As Adeola continues her journey to healing, her story stands as a powerful reminder of the need for intensified awareness, stricter border controls, and stronger support systems to combat human trafficking and protect potential victims.
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