A 19-year-old girl from Delta State, Annabel, has returned home after escaping a prostitution ring in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where she was allegedly trafficked under the promise of securing a decent job.
Annabel, from Ovwiamuge in Agbarho, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, was located after a video of her surfaced on social media. In the video, she identified herself, her community and Delta State, while revealing that her parents were still in Nigeria and were unaware that she had travelled to Côte d’Ivoire.
She also indicated that she could identify the woman who took her abroad and had her phone number.
According to the account surrounding her rescue, Annabel was taken to Côte d’Ivoire for prostitution but was later abandoned after refusing to comply with demands placed on her. She subsequently found herself stranded until the viral video helped trigger efforts to locate her family.
Her return to Nigeria was facilitated with the intervention of Stella Okotete, Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, through her Erhuvwuoghene Girl Child Right Foundation.
Following her return, Annabel was reunited with her parents and welcomed by members of her community.
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Okotete said the priority was not only to bring Annabel home but also to support her recovery, reintegration and education. She urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and pay closer attention to the safety and welfare of their children.
Annabel has expressed her desire to return to school and pursue her ambition of becoming a nurse.
The Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, also pledged support for her education, saying the community would help her return to school and rebuild her future.
The rescue has renewed concerns about human trafficking and the dangers young Nigerians face when lured with promises of employment and better opportunities outside their communities.
For Annabel, however, her return home marks a new beginning, with her dream of becoming a nurse receiving renewed support.
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