'How my Facebook friend, kinswoman in prostitution ring trafficked me to Mali'

• Published date: 21 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Favour, an indigene of Ebonyi State, has narrated how a friend of hers connived with a woman from her hometown to take her abroad for prostitution in the guise of giving her a legitimate paying job.

She spoke to our reporter in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State after she was rescued and re-united with her family following more than a month of sojourn in some West African countries.

The tortuous journey through difficult terrains and different countries saw her sleep in open motor parks and shanties constructed with polythene bags and wood.

The graduate of Environmental Health from College of Health Technology located in her hometown, Ezzamgbo in Ohaukwu Local government Area, described her ordeal as traumatic and harrowing.

Having finished the compulsory one year National Youth Service which saw her serve in Osun State, Favour, like most graduates, returned home in April 2022 unemployed.

She noted that it was at this point that she met her supposed girlfriend named Mabel Ifeoma, who hailed from Ngbo, a neighbouring town to Ezzamgbo, on Facebook. Mabel would later become the architect of her trafficking ordeal.

According to her, Mabel lied that they were going to Lagos for the job but along the line the destination changed to Togo. But instead of Togo she was taken to Mali through the Republic of Benin.

She said: 'We started chatting and became girlfriends. Last year (2022), she came back and attended the burial of one of my relatives, and that was the first time I met her in person.

'One day, she called me on the phone and told me that she had got a job for me in Lagos and that she would like me, herself and her sister to go for the job.

'I asked her the type of job and she said it was supermarket work as sales girls. I told my parents about it and they said they must see her in person before they could grant her permission to travel.

'She didn't want to come at first but I pleaded and she later agreed. She came and told my parents that the woman's husband was based abroad and needed three people that would be working for her.'

Favour's parents, after asking Mabel series of questions and receiving assurances that the job was genuine, agreed to let her travel.

Favour said as a devout and dedicated Christian, she had a revelation of what was in store for her on the journey.

'So, that day, we left my village and came to Abakaliki to sleep in the house of the brother to the woman who wanted to employ us so that we could leave early in the morning.

'We got there and...