Adeola Omotoso, daughter of veteran Nollywood actress Jumoke George, has shared her harrowing experience of being trafficked and sold into prostitution in Mali.
Speaking in a recent interview, Adeola revealed that her ordeal began when someone approached her with what seemed like a promising job opportunity abroad.
“I met someone who introduced travelling to Mali to me,” she recalled. “She said she knew someone who owns a pharmacy and asked if I could travel there to handle the business.”
She agreed to the offer but kept it secret from her family.
“We travelled by road for four days through Cotonou, Togo, Ghana, and other countries,” she said.
Upon arriving in Bamako, the Malian capital, Adeola called the contact she had been given—only to discover she had been sold.
“When I got to Bamako in Mali, I called the contact I was given. When I got to the person’s house, she said she is my madam and that she bought me from my sister. She said I’ll work to pay her 1.5 million CFA francs,” Adeola recounted.
Shocked and terrified, Adeola refused, telling the woman she would rather die than engage in prostitution.
As a result of her refusal, they took her phone and travel documents, leaving her stranded.
“I was very confused and tried to confirm if I was at the right address. She said I was there for prostitution. I told her I can’t do it and would rather die. She threatened me, and I told her she’s free to do whatever she wants.”
She was later taken to a brothel. “When we got there, I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive. I told her I can’t work as a prostitute but could do other jobs to pay her. She took my phone and travel documents,” she added.
Fortunately, she met a kind-hearted man she confided in, who helped her escape and found her work as a food vendor in another location.
“While working there, I heard stories and saw Nigerians who died because of prostitution,” Adeola said. “I wanted to raise some money so I could come back home. I didn’t want to return empty. I thought about calling my mum and kids, but I couldn’t because I felt ashamed.”
“I’ve been away for four years and have nothing to show for it. I was suffering but didn’t know what to do. I even told my roommate not to post me on social media if I died.”
After 4 years, Adeola was finally rescued and reunited with her family earlier this week.
Her emotional homecoming saw her flanked by her mother, Jumoke George; Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and actor Adeniyi Johnson.
Reflecting on her survival, Adeola said;
“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.”
