Nigerian Woman Trafficked To Iraq, Brutalised And Forced Into 20-Hour Workdays Without Pay, Set To Return Home On Friday After SaharaReporters’ Report

A 28-year-old Nigerian woman, Odunayo Eniola Isaac, trafficked to Iraq, is expected to return to Nigeria today, Friday, January 3, 2025, following SaharaReporters’ story about her ordeal in the middle eastern country.

Odunayo’s expected return back in Nigeria followed the intervention of the officials of the Nigerian mission in Jordan, that oversees Iraq, who took action on her case after the report.

In December 2024, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Odunayo, who hails from Osun State in the South-West region of Nigeria, issued a distressing and heart-wrenching plea for assistance to return to Nigeria.

Odunayo was allegedly a victim of human trafficking perpetrated by one Alhaja Yusuf Shakira, notoriously known as Mama Uganda, who deceitfully transported her to Iraq with promises of a better life.

Having endured almost two years of inhumane treatment, brutal physical torture, and degrading dehumanization at the hands of her Iraqi employer, Saba Akram, and his spouse, Odunayo's emotional and psychological well-being was severely compromised.

Overwhelmed with despair and desperation, she raised the alarm and implored the Nigerian authorities to facilitate her urgent return to Nigeria, lest she loses her life.

Odunayo conveyed the depth of her desperation, stating that if she remained in Iraq for even a short period longer, her very existence would be under threat.

Odunayo, who narrated her ordeal to SaharaReporters through a Nigerian-based human rights advocacy organization, Hopes Haven Foundation, narrated that she was trafficked by Alhaja Shakira to Iraq a year and 10 months earlier through an Iraqi agency identified as Blend Warani, with a promise of a job opportunity.

Odunayo, who was at the Iraqi immigration when she briefly spoke to SaharaReporters and confirmed that she was still alive, said at some point, her employer’s wife attempted to kill her with an iron rod and hot water but she narrowly escaped to a nearest police station.

According to her, she left Nigeria in February 2023 to work as a domestic help in Iraq.

Upon her arrival in Iraq, Odunayo was subjected to deplorable and inhumane working conditions, characterized by excessively long work hours of up to 20 hours daily.

The situation was further exacerbated by the constant and severe physical torture reportedly inflicted upon her by her employer, Saba Akram, and his wife.

The couple's brutal tactics allegedly included the use of tasers and metal rods to inflict physical harm and intimidate Odunayo into submission.

In addition to the physical abuse, Odunayo was also subjected to emotional and psychological torment. She said her employer seized her phone, effectively severing her connection with her family and friends.

This deliberate isolation prevented her from communicating her distress and pleas for help to anyone who could potentially intervene on her behalf.

According to her, in July 2023, her employer falsely accused her of running away, despite the fact that she was being held captive in the house and subjected to relentless torture and death threats.

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However, NiDCOM Head of Media Unit, Abdulrahman Balogun, confirmed to SaharaReporters that Odunayo was on her way back to Nigeria.

He said Odunayo departed Baghdad via Egyptair for Cairo at 5pm on Thursday and was expected to arrive at Cairo by 6.10 am on Friday, from where she would head to Nigeria.

According to NiDCOM, Odunayo will depart Cairo for Abuja at 9 am on Friday and is expected to arrive in Abuja by 1.30pm via Egyptair.

Balogun said that another case of a Nigerian who went to work in Iraq as a carer and was killed in suspicious circumstances was also being investigated.

“The Nigerian government has demanded an autopsy as to the cause of death of the victim.

“NiDCOM hereby warns that unscrupulous agents are now wickedly luring young Nigerian women to Iraq with fake and evil promises, most of which portend danger to the mostly unsuspecting victims who get lured into slavery and prostitution when they get to the country,” Balogun.

Balogun added that NiDCOM has warned Nigerians about being hoodwinked by agents to Iraq and other countries.