A woman from Ibadan, identified as Ogundele Oluwakemi Victoria, is reportedly in a life-threatening condition in Iraq after being lured abroad under questionable circumstances, with allegations of abuse, starvation and a suspected attempt to harvest her organ.
The alarming situation was made public by Damilola Adekola of Hopes Haven Foundation, who expressed concern over the victim’s worsening health condition.
Adekola stated that the victim’s condition had deteriorated significantly, adding that there were fears her mental health had been affected following prolonged neglect and ill-treatment.
Recounting how the incident unfolded, the victim’s sister, Titilayo Victoria, said the family only got wind of her travel plans shortly before she left the country.
She noted that Victoria informed her two days before departure, alleging that the travel agent instructed her to keep the arrangement confidential until completion.
Despite efforts by relatives to stop her, she reportedly proceeded with the trip after being told it could not be reversed.
While in Iraq, the victim was said to have maintained limited contact with her family, during which she complained of harsh treatment and lack of adequate feeding.
A Nigerian resident in Iraq, identified simply as Lady B, also gave an account of the ordeal, alleging that the victim was subjected to financial exploitation and threats by her employers.
She claimed the agent continued to demand money from the victim even after collecting several months’ wages.
Lady B further alleged that the victim narrowly escaped a suspected organ harvesting plot after being taken to a hospital, where a nurse reportedly warned her to flee for her safety.
According to her, the victim ran to a police station but was later returned to an agency, where she was allegedly reassigned to another household.
At the new location, she was reportedly denied access to communication devices and threatened by her employer.
Her whereabouts remained unknown for months until she was later traced to an agency facility in Baghdad, where she was found in a severely weak condition.
Sources said she could barely speak and appeared mentally unstable after spending weeks without proper care before some Nigerians intervened to assist her.
Another Nigerian, identified as Mama Tee, confirmed efforts to support the victim, stating that a nurse who assessed her indicated that she was not mentally stable.
She added that the agency had threatened to abandon the victim if no one assumed responsibility for her care.
The victim has since been moved from the facility and is currently receiving assistance from concerned individuals, but she remains in urgent need of medical attention.
Meanwhile, the agent who facilitated her trip, identified as Mr Kazeem, admitted arranging her travel but denied responsibility for her present condition, saying she was handed over to another handler.
Reacting, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons condemned the development and pledged to take necessary action.
The agency’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, said steps were being taken to rescue the victim and investigate those involved, noting that she might have evaded earlier interception efforts.
The case has once again highlighted growing concerns over human trafficking involving Nigerian women to the Middle East, with experts warning that inadequate awareness and weak enforcement continue to expose many to exploitation.
