A NIGERIAN LADY DECEIVED INTO SLAVERY IN LEBANON CRIED FOR HELP

A video surface on the social media of a 23 years old single mother, Ajayi Omolola who from her story said she hails from Osun State, Nigeria but she is currently in a terrible state in Lebanon.

In the video clip, Omolola who spoke in Yoruba Language with a mix of English narrated her ordeal, how she was deceived by a family friend to go to Lebanon with an impression of going to teach children English Language.

She said that she was deceived by his agent (who was introduced to her by her family friend) to come to Lebanon to teach small children English language.

She reported to have contacted her agent when the hardship was getting out of hands but the agency blocked her from calling, while many of her colleagues who traveled with her had passed away due to hard labour.

She said (in paraphrase):

“My name is Ajayi Omolola, a citizen of Osun State, Nigeria. 23 years old

I am a single mother, I’m in Lebanon, but my parent lives in Ilorin, Kwara State, near Offa Garage.

My family friend linked me to one white man that took me to Lebanon, they told me that I am going to Lebanon to teach children English language, but it eventually turned a lie.

When I reached Lebanon, my passport was collected from me and it was then I knew that I have been sold into slavery, I am facing untold hardship in this country, Lebanon.

They don’t take care of us whenever we are sick, they will only give us ‘Panadol’ to take, most of my colleagues that we came here together are dead.

I am begging ‘feminist life support’ to rescue me from this place so that I will not die in this place.

The person I am staying with now wanted to rape me, but I resisted him, he has seized my phone from me.

I called my agent to rescue me from the place, but he blocked me.

I told the person I am working with that I want to go back home but, he responded that he has paid for my life and death, so I belong to him {dead and alive}.

Please help me. I want to return back to Nigeria to take care of my 3 years old baby.

If this man come, he may want to rape me and I will push him, if I push him and he fall and die, they will definitely arrest me and kill me too.

Please don’t let me die.

The video attracted different reactions on social media, most which are directed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to take action in saving the life of the young lady, some do not spare the Nigeria Immigrations for not been effective in their operations.

The immigration are only interested in collecting bribe at the airports. They know the gang of traffickers trafficking these ladies. We have 1000s of Nigerian women as slaves in Lebanon. They are sold from one agent to another. This is sad.

— Festus. (@MrFestusEmeka) January 9, 2020

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa in series of response to some concerned tweets on her Twitter timeline promised the right agency will take over the issue for a desired results and hopeful that the lady will be rescued.

Trafficking issue. Been since forwarded to @DGNaptip . I believe @naptipnigeria already on it. You may please also tag them . I’m optimistic she will be found https://t.co/nmeLRfEwds

— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) January 8, 2020

Already sent to @naptipnigeria @DGNaptip , agency in charge of trafficking. I’m optimistic and pray she returns home safely https://t.co/8FYqO2TNBG

— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) January 8, 2020

She also gave assurance of the involvement of the Kwara State Government on this issue

Kwara Gov @RealAARahman has vowed to ensure that all involved are persecuted. As long as traffickers walk about freely , our young girls will remain in danger.@naptipnigeria is doing all they can to nab traffickers https://t.co/ILlGqpzMyG

— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) January 10, 2020

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor has responded in a Tweet on his official Twitter account – @RealAARahman where he said he was horrified by the video footage of Ms Omolola Ajayi.

“We have since linked up with security agencies who have arrested the alleged perpetrators and will soon hand them over to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).”

I am horrified by the video footage of Ms Ajayi Omolola, a resident in Ilorin, who was trafficked to Lebanon where she is reportedly being subjected to inhuman treatment. We have since linked up with security agencies who have arrested the alleged perpetrators…

— Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (@RealAARahman) January 10, 2020

God willing, we will ensure she’s returned home to her family. https://t.co/av6zDKCGKL

— Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (@RealAARahman) January 11, 2020

It raises a great concern how Nigerians are subjected to several inhumane conditions in their quest for a better living, Omolola’s case is a rare one in million, how much more are the numbers that were not very lucky to get their cries out for such attention and have lost their lives and/or many things to this.

Arguably, many will say ‘why are Nigerians so desperate to travel’ but if we are to consider this topic, WHO DO YOU BLAME?

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