From Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

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A Nigerian lady, Miss Olofin Stella, has returned home from Libya with shattered dreams, battling physical and mental trauma after enduring months of torture, forced labour, and abuse.

Stella, an indigene of Ondo State, had set out in search of a better life, but found herself trapped in a cycle of exploitation and suffering. Her journey began in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, and took her through Kano and Niger Republic, before she eventually arrived in Tripoli, Libya, after several failed attempts.

Her ordeal started with betrayal when those who promised her safe passage abandoned her, leading to her arrest and deportation. Undeterred, she attempted the journey again, only to be imprisoned and tortured before being sent back to Nigeria.

On her third attempt, she successfully reached Libya, but was immediately subjected to inhumane conditions. Forced to work long hours without rest, she endured constant physical and emotional abuse from her employers. Despite her deteriorating health, she was denied medical care and made to continue working to repay her ‘burger’—the trafficker who facilitated her journey.

Weekend Hope gathered that her situation worsened when she began experiencing severe physical pain, hallucinations, and mental disorientation. When her trafficker could no longer exploit her, she was sent to live with her boyfriend, who had also migrated to Libya. Instead of finding refuge, she faced further abuse, including frequent beatings and sexual assault, which compounded her fragile condition.

Desperate to escape her nightmare, Stella eventually found her way back to Nigeria with the help of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which provided her with N700,000 to start afresh. However, the money was spent on medical treatments and spiritual consultations as her condition continued to deteriorate.

Now back home, Stella struggles to walk and remains in poor health. Her mother, who became her sole caregiver following her father’s death, has taken her to several places in search of healing—but relief remains elusive.

Her harrowing experience serves as a warning to young Nigerians considering irregular migration in search of better opportunities. Stella now seeks urgent assistance from well-meaning individuals to access proper medical care and rebuild her life.