A Nigerian woman from Ibadan, Oyo State, identified as Ogundele Oluwakemi Victoria, is reportedly in critical condition in Iraq after being trafficked under deceptive circumstances, with allegations of abuse, starvation, and a suspected organ harvesting attempt.
The case was brought to light by Damilola Adekola of Hopes Haven Foundation, who said Victoria’s condition has deteriorated significantly.
“She is currently in a critical state, with reports indicating she may have lost her sanity,” Adekola said, citing claims of prolonged abuse and neglect.
Victoria’s sister, Titilayo Victoria, said the family only became aware of her travel plans shortly before she left Nigeria.
“Two days before she travelled, she called to inform me,” she said. “The agent warned her not to tell anyone until everything was completed.”
Despite attempts by family members to stop her, Victoria reportedly went ahead with the trip after being told the process could not be reversed.
After arriving in Iraq, she maintained limited contact with her family, during which she allegedly complained of mistreatment and lack of food.
“She told us they were maltreating her and starving her,” her sister said.
A Nigerian acquaintance in Iraq, identified as Lady B, described a troubling account of Victoria’s experience, including alleged financial exploitation and threats from her employers.
“She said her agent kept demanding money even after she had paid several months’ salary,” Lady B said.
She further alleged that Victoria narrowly escaped a suspected organ harvesting attempt.
“She was taken to a hospital, and a nurse warned her to run for her life because they wanted to harvest her kidney,” she claimed.
According to the account, Victoria later fled to a police station but was returned to an agency, where she was allegedly resold to another household.
At the second location, she was reportedly denied access to her phone and threatened.
“One day, her employer warned she would be shot if seen using a phone again. That was the last time we heard from her,” Lady B added.
Months later, Victoria was reportedly traced to an agency office in Baghdad, where she was found in a severely weakened state.
“She was lying on the floor and could not speak. They said she was not mentally stable,” Lady B said.
She was said to have remained there for weeks without proper care until concerned Nigerians intervened to provide basic support.
Another Nigerian, identified as Mama Tee, confirmed efforts to assist Victoria.
“I sent a nurse to assess her, and the report was that she was not mentally okay,” she said, adding that the agency had threatened to abandon her if no one took responsibility.
Victoria has since been moved from the facility and is currently under the care of concerned persons, but remains in urgent need of medical attention.
“She needs immediate help,” Mama Tee stressed.
Victoria’s agent, identified as Mr Kazeem, admitted facilitating her travel but denied responsibility for her current situation.
“I handed her over to another agent. I don’t have access to the office handling her case,” he said.
He added that efforts were being made to support her treatment but offered no clear plan for her return to Nigeria.
“Let us keep praying for her. By God’s grace, she will recover,” he said.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has condemned the incident and pledged to intervene.
Spokesperson Vincent Adekoye said the victim may have bypassed earlier interception efforts by the agency.
“We usually intercept such cases, but she may have evaded our officers,” he said, adding that NAPTIP would take immediate steps to rescue her and investigate those involved.
Victoria’s case points to ongoing concerns over human trafficking involving Nigerian women to the Middle East, where many reportedly face exploitation under abusive labour conditions.
Rights groups warn that without stronger enforcement and public awareness, such cases may continue to rise, putting vulnerable individuals at risk.
