Adeola Omotoso, daughter of veteran Nollywood actress Jumoke George, has opened up about her traumatic experience of being trafficked and forced into prostitution in Mali
In a recent interview, Adeola revealed that her nightmare began when she was lured by the promise of a job opportunity abroad.
“I met someone who introduced travelling to Mali to me,” she said. “She told me there was someone who owned a pharmacy and needed someone to help run the business.”
Trusting the offer, Adeola agreed and left Nigeria without informing her family. She travelled by road for four days through Cotonou, Togo, Ghana, and other countries before arriving in Bamako, the capital of Mali.
But upon arrival, the truth unraveled.
“When I got to Bamako, I called the contact I was given. When I got to the person’s house, she told me she’s my madam and that she bought me from my sister. She said I must work to repay 1.5 million CFA francs,” she recounted.
Devastated, Adeola refused. “I told her I couldn’t do prostitution. I said I’d rather die. She threatened me, then took my phone and travel documents.”
She was eventually taken to a brothel but stood her ground. “I told her I could do other jobs to repay her, but not prostitution,” she said.
In the midst of her despair, a kind stranger came to her aid. Adeola confided in him, and he helped her escape. She found work as a food vendor in another part of Mali, where she stayed and struggled for survival.
“While working, I saw Nigerians who died because of prostitution,” she said. “I was ashamed to call my mum or my children. I wanted to save up something before coming home. I even told my roommate not to post me on social media if I died.”
After four harrowing years, Adeola was rescued and reunited with her family earlier this week.
Her emotional return was witnessed by her mother, Jumoke George, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and actor Adeniyi Johnson.
Reflecting on her journey, she said tearfully: “I don’t know how good my mum is before God that made Him save me from all the evil that was about to befall me in Mali.”
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