Adeola, who recently reunited with her mother after years of separation, narrated her heartbreaking ordeal in a candid interview.
According to Adeola, her nightmare began when she met an individual who claimed to have connections that could help her secure a job in Mali. The person told her about an opportunity to work in a pharmacy in Bamako, the capital of Mali. Excited by the offer and eager to improve her life, she agreed to travel without informing her family.
“I met someone who introduced the idea of travelling to Mali for work. She said she knew someone who owned a pharmacy and asked if I was interested in helping with the business. I agreed because I thought it was a genuine opportunity, and I didn’t tell anyone at home,” Adeola recalled.
The journey, however, was long and perilous. Adeola traveled by road for four days, passing through Cotonou (Benin Republic), Togo, Ghana, and other countries, before finally arriving in Bamako.
Upon arrival, Adeola contacted the person she had been told would receive her. But when she reached the house, she was shocked to learn that she had been sold into prostitution.
“When I arrived in Mali, I called the contact I was given, and when I got to her house, she told me she was my madam. She said she bought me from my sister and that I was now her property. She told me I had to work as a prostitute to repay 1.5 million CFA francs,” she said.
Adeola, who was confused and devastated, tried to explain that she could not engage in prostitution, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
“I told her I could not do it and that I would rather die. She threatened me and took away my phone and travel documents. I hadno means to escape or contact anyone for help,” she narrated.
Eventually, Adeola was taken to a brothel. There, she witnessed firsthand the horrors and dangers that Nigerian women like her faced in Mali’s underworld of prostitution.
Desperate to escape, she confided in a man she met at the brothel, who took pity on her and helped her get a job selling food in a different area.
“I met a man there, and I told him my story. He helped me find a job with a food vendor, and that was how I was able to survive. I worked there for a while, and during that time, I saw many Nigerian girls die because of prostitution. It was terrifying,” she shared.
Adeola also admitted that she struggled with the thought of returning home, feeling ashamed of her situation and the years she had lost.
“I wanted to raise some money so I could come back home, but I didn’t want to return empty-handed. I couldn’t bring myself to call my mum or my kids because I felt so ashamed of myself. I had been gone for four years and had nothing to show for it,” she said tearfully.
She also mentioned that she had told her roommate not to post her on social media if she died in Mali, revealing the depths of her despair.
Reflecting on her survival, Adeola said, “I don’t know how good my mum is before God that He saved me from the evil that was about to befall me in Mali. I believe it was God who intervened.”
Adeola’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers many young women face in search of greener pastures abroad and the importance of vigilance when offered seemingly attractive opportunities.
Her story also sheds light on the alarming issue of human trafficking and the need for stronger protective measures to prevent similar tragedies.
