Adeola Omotoso, the daughter of Nollywood actress Jumoke George, has finally broken her silence after being missing for over four years.
In a heartbreaking interview, she revealed that she was trafficked to Mali and forced into prostitution.
The 41-year-old woman shared her story shortly after her rescue by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
Her case, which shocked the entertainment industry and the public, highlights the dangers of human trafficking and how vulnerable people can be tricked with false promises.
A mother’s long search ends
In 2020, veteran Nollywood actress Jumoke George reported her daughter missing. Adeola had vanished without a trace, and for four long years, the family lived in fear and uncertainty. During this period, there were no confirmed reports of her whereabouts.
That changed recently when NIDCOM announced it had rescued Adeola from Mali. The Commission, which works to protect the rights of Nigerians living abroad, coordinated her return to Nigeria. Her rescue brought both relief and sorrow as she shared the terrifying details of her journey.
Lured with promises of a better life
In an emotional interview on the “Talk to B” podcast, hosted by actress Biola Bayo, Adeola told her story. She said it all began when she met a woman who promised to help her travel abroad for better job opportunities.
“I met someone who told me about traveling to Mali,” Adeola said. “She told me there was a pharmacy I could work in. She made it sound like a good opportunity.”
Desperate for a better life, Adeola agreed to go without telling anyone in her family. What followed was a long and dangerous journey by road. She traveled through Cotonou, Togo, Ghana, and several other West African countries before finally reaching Bamako, the capital of Mali.
Betrayed and sold for N250,000
Adeola said her nightmare began the moment she arrived in Mali. She contacted the person she had been told to meet. When she got to the woman’s house, the truth came out.
“She told me that she bought me from my sister for N250,000,” Adeola revealed. “She said I must pay her back 1.5 million CFA and that I would do that through prostitution.”
Shocked and terrified, Adeola realized she had been sold into sex slavery. She was taken to a brothel and forced to work there. She said she lived in fear and had no way of contacting her family or escaping her situation.
Life in the brothel
For months, Adeola endured abuse and exploitation. She said the conditions were harsh, and the women were watched closely. Many of them, she said, were young Nigerian girls who had also been trafficked.
“We were treated like property,” she said. “They monitored our movements. We could not leave unless we had a customer. It was like prison.”
Despite the danger, Adeola never gave up hope. She looked for any chance to escape. That chance finally came when she met a local food vendor.
Escape and rescue
One day, Adeola convinced the food vendor to help her. The woman offered her a small job and a place to hide. From there, Adeola was able to contact someone who alerted the Nigerian authorities.
Through the efforts of NIDCOM and other groups working to fight human trafficking, Adeola was rescued and brought home. Now back in Nigeria, she is safe and receiving the care she needs to recover.
A call for justice
Adeola’s story has sparked outrage and calls for action. Many Nigerians are demanding that the traffickers involved in her case be arrested and prosecuted. Her mother, Jumoke George, has not made a public statement since the rescue but is said to be grateful and relieved.
NIDCOM has urged young Nigerians to be careful of offers to travel abroad without proper documentation or official support. The agency continues to work with international partners to track and rescue victims of trafficking.
A cautionary tale
Adeola Omotoso’s experience is a painful reminder of the dangers of human trafficking. Her story serves as a warning to others and a call for stronger action to protect vulnerable citizens.
As she begins to rebuild her life, Adeola hopes her voice will help bring change. “No one deserves to go through what I went through,” she said. “I want to help stop this from happening to someone else.”
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