A 30-year-old Nigerian single mother from Ogun State has spoken out about the harrowing 3-month overland journey to Libya—and the brutal abuses endured along the way. Olaonipekun Adenike, who embarked on the trip after being promised work and a better future, revealed she was raped by border policemen during a stop en route. These officers allegedly stopped and assaulted women at random before allowing them to continue .
Adenike detailed how her journey began in Sagamu, took her through Lagos and Kano to Niger Republic—and eventually across the desert into Libya. She survived dehydration, starvation, violent vehicle crashes, and the loss of fellow travellers. “We begged for food and drank our urine when thirsty,” she said, underscoring the dire conditions on the route.
Upon arriving in Libya, she was deceived again—sold to a Ghanaian man and then forced into domestic servitude. After 18 months, she was transferred to a brothel and coerced into sex work. Her escape came after being jailed, aided by a compassionate policeman who helped her flee. She finally returned to Nigeria on a government-chartered flight, landing in Port Harcourt, then reuniting with others in Ogun State.
Since her rescue, Adenike has received minimal support—only N5,000 from the state government in 2018 and some training from the International Organisation for Migration. She’s now channelled her trauma into advocacy by founding the “Foundation for Action Against Irregular Migration,” distributing her self-published book freely and educating youth about the perils of trafficking.
Adenike implores young Nigerians evaluating illegal migration paths: “Migration can be positive—but it must be done properly. Not all that glitters is gold.” She dreams of further studies, perhaps in Canada, but women must be informed and cautious. Her mission now? To transform her pain into prevention for others considering the same dangerous route.
