A young Nigerian woman, Odunayo Eniola Isaac, from Osun State, has made a desperate plea for help after nearly two years of horrifying abuse in Iraq. According to chronicles Reporters, Odunayo was allegedly trafficked by a woman identified as Alhaja Yusuf Shakira, also known as Mama Uganda, who lured her with false promises of a better life.
Upon arriving in Iraq, Odunayo was subjected to relentless physical abuse, emotional torment, and inhumane working conditions by her employer, Saba Akram, and his wife. The couple reportedly forced her to work 20-hour days without pay, beat her with iron rods, and even used tasers to intimidate her. Her phone and passport were seized, isolating her from any support system.
Odunayo recounted her ordeal to chronicles Reporters through the Nigerian-based human rights organization, Hopes Haven Foundation. She revealed that in February 2023, she was trafficked by Alhaja Shakira via an Iraqi agency called Blend Warani under the guise of securing domestic work. However, her life turned into a nightmare of constant torture and death threats.
In July 2023, Odunayo’s employer falsely accused her of attempting to escape. Following this, the agency refunded the employer’s payment, leaving Odunayo stranded and without pay for the entire duration of her employment. Her family, determined to find her, reached out to Hopes Haven Foundation, which eventually located her through a viral video circulating on WhatsApp showing her in distress.
Odunayo narrated how she narrowly escaped death when her employer’s wife tried to attack her with hot water and an iron rod. She fled to a nearby police station, where she has been in detention since last Wednesday. Speaking from the Iraqi immigration center, she pleaded with Nigerian authorities to intervene and help her return home.
“My employer locked me inside, beat me, and claimed I was fine. I’ve been here for nearly two years, and they haven’t paid me anything. I just want to go home,” she said.
Hopes Haven Foundation described Odunayo’s case as a glaring example of human trafficking, labor exploitation, and severe human rights violations. The foundation has written to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Hon. Tochukwu Okere, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, seeking urgent intervention.
The foundation demanded the recovery of Odunayo’s unpaid wages, compensation for her medical and psychological damages, and legal action against her employers. They also called for her immediate repatriation to Nigeria and reintegration into society.
When chronicles Reporters contacted Alhaja Shakira for clarification, she initially claimed to be unwell and later failed to provide any documentation or details about Odunayo’s ordeal.
Abdulrahman Balogun, Head of Media at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), confirmed that the case falls under human trafficking, which is handled by NAPTIP. He noted that in countries without Nigerian embassies, organizations like Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) often assist citizens in distress.
NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye stated that the agency had not been aware of the matter but promised to act promptly after receiving a copy of the letter from Hopes Haven Foundation.
Odunayo’s case underscores the urgent need for stronger protections for Nigerians working abroad and justice for victims of trafficking.
Stay updated on this story and others by joining our WhatsApp channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J