A 28-year-old Nigerian woman, Odunayo Eniola Isaac, has shared her harrowing experience of being trafficked to Iraq, where she was subjected to nearly two years of brutal torture, forced labor, and inhumane conditions without pay.
In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, Odunayo revealed how acute hardship, unemployment, and desperation have made young Nigerians easy prey for human traffickers. She warned others against falling for the false promises of traffickers, describing her ordeal as something she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy.
Odunayo, a native of Osun State, was trafficked to Iraq in February 2023 by a notorious trafficker, Alhaja Yusuf Shakira, infamously known as “Mama Uganda.” Lured with promises of a better life, she found herself trapped in a living nightmare at the hands of her employer, Saba Akram, and his wife, who subjected her to constant beatings, starvation, and psychological torment.
Her case came to light after SaharaReporters first reported on her plight in December 2024, prompting intervention that led to her eventual return to Nigeria on January 3, 2025. However, the scars—both physical and emotional—remain deep.
Odunayo described her experience as worse than prison, stating that many Nigerian women are still trapped in Iraqi homes where they are treated like slaves.
> “Even in prison, you can at least breathe freely. But in those houses, you are nothing but an object of torture,” she said.
She also recounted how she barely survived the ordeal, with many trafficked victims losing their sanity due to prolonged abuse.
> “I even thank God I did not run mad. Many people have lost their minds there. Some no longer understand what they are doing,” she lamented.
Odunayo’s journey was fueled by a desire to support her ailing mother and escape the crushing poverty in Nigeria. However, she returned home to face the same economic struggles.
> “There is no food. There are no jobs. Some people steal not because they want to, but because they have no other choice. That’s why we risk everything—even our lives—just to survive,” she said.
She pleaded with the Nigerian government to address the worsening unemployment crisis and provide immediate assistance to victims still trapped abroad.
> “The government should help bring our people back. Many of them don’t even have money for flight tickets. Some have gone crazy from the abuse. They need urgent help.”
“Don’t Fall for the Lies” – A Warning to Young Nigerians
Despite the struggles she faces since her return, Odunayo is determined to use her story to warn others.
> “My advice to young Nigerians is simple—stay home. Even if all you have to eat is garri, it’s better than what awaits you in those places,” she warned.
> “Iraq is not a land of opportunity. It is hell. And once you enter, coming out is almost impossible.”
Her words serve as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking behind the false promises of human traffickers—and a call to action for both the government and society to tackle the root causes driving Nigerians into such perilous situations.
PIONEER NEWS 