Nigerian trafficked victim battles for life in Iraq amid abuse, organ harvest claim

A Nigerian woman from Ibadan in Oyo State, identified as Ogundele Oluwakemi Victoria, is reportedly in critical condition in Iraq after being trafficked under deceptive circumstances, sparking outrage and renewed concerns over human trafficking to the Middle East.

The disturbing case was brought to public attention by Damilola Adekola of the Hopes Haven Foundation, who revealed that Victoria’s health has deteriorated significantly following months of alleged abuse and neglect.

“She is currently in a critical state, with reports indicating she may have lost her sanity,” Adekola said, citing prolonged maltreatment and deprivation.

Victoria’s sister, Titilayo Victoria, disclosed that the family only became aware of her travel plans shortly before she left Nigeria. According to her, the agent handling the trip instructed Victoria to keep the arrangement secret until it was completed.

“Two days before she travelled, she called to inform me,” she said. “The agent warned her not to tell anyone until everything was finalised.”

Despite efforts by her family to stop her, Victoria reportedly proceeded with the journey after being told the process could not be reversed.

After arriving in Iraq, she maintained limited contact with her relatives, during which she allegedly complained of harsh treatment and starvation.

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“She told us they were maltreating her and starving her,” her sister recounted.

A Nigerian acquaintance based in Iraq, identified as Lady B, provided further insight into Victoria’s ordeal, alleging financial exploitation and repeated threats from her employers.

“She said her agent kept demanding money even after she had paid several months’ salary,” Lady B said.

She also raised alarming claims 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 alleged.

According to the account, Victoria later fled to a police station but was reportedly returned to an agency, where she was resold to another household. At the second location, she was allegedly denied access to communication and threatened with violence.

“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 traced to an agency office in Baghdad, where she was reportedly found in a severely weakened and unresponsive 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 in that condition for weeks without proper care until concerned Nigerians intervened to provide basic assistance.

Another Nigerian, Mama Tee, confirmed ongoing efforts to support Victoria, including arranging a medical assessment.

“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 now under the care of concerned individuals, but remains in urgent need of medical treatment.

“She needs immediate help,” Mama Tee stressed.

Meanwhile, the agent who allegedly facilitated her travel, Mr Kazeem, admitted involvement but denied responsibility for her current condition.

“I handed her over to another agent. I don’t have access to the office handling her case,” he said, noting that efforts were being made to support her treatment, though no clear plan has been outlined for her return to Nigeria.

In response, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has condemned the incident and pledged immediate intervention.

Spokesperson Vincent Adekoye said the agency may have missed an opportunity to intercept the victim before departure.

“We usually intercept such cases, but she may have evaded our officers,” he said, assuring that steps would be taken to rescue her and investigate all those involved.

The case has once again highlighted the persistent dangers of human trafficking involving Nigerian women to the Middle East, where many are exposed to exploitative and abusive labour conditions.

Advocacy groups warn that without stronger enforcement, regulation of recruitment agents, and increased public awareness, vulnerable individuals will continue to fall victim to trafficking networks operating across international borders.