Adeola Omotosho, daughter of actress Jumoke George, has received a deep freezer and cash gifts from a kind Nigerian through the Jaal Foundation, four years after being trafficked to Mali.
Actress Biola Adebayo, who helped bring Adeola’s story to public attention, shared the news on Instagram on Tuesday, posting a video of the emotional moment Adeola was presented with the gifts at the foundation’s Lagos office.
Tolu Aderemi, director of the Jaal Foundation, said the gesture aligns with the foundation’s mission. “His foundation’s core objective was to advocate for good governance, and Adeola is a good example, as demonstrated by the swift intervention of the Chairman/CEO, Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in facilitating her rescue in Mali,” he said.
He praised Biola Adebayo, NiDCOM boss Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Miss Oyiza Yakubu, who helped locate Adeola in Bamako, for their efforts. He also commended President Bola Tinubu and NIDCOM for their continued support to Nigerians at home and abroad.
“He congratulated Adeola and encouraged her to settle down to a new life in the country. He advised the youth to imbibe the virtues of hard work and be engaged in the country to avoid being trafficked,” Aderemi added.
Adeola, grateful for the support, said, “In her remarks, Ms Adeola expressed appreciation to Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Aderemi for the kind gestures.”
Adeola had earlier opened up about her experience in an interview with Biola Adebayo. She recounted how her ordeal began when she accepted what she thought was a job opportunity in Mali.
“When I got to Bamako in Mali, I called the contact I was given. When I got to the person’s house, she said she is my madam and that she bought me from my sister. She said I’ll work to pay her 1.5 million CFA francs,” Adeola said.
Refusing to be forced into sex work, she added, “I told her I can’t do it and would rather die. She threatened me, and I told her she’s free to do whatever she wants.”
Her phone and travel documents were seized and she was taken to a brothel. However, with the help of a kind stranger, she escaped and later survived by selling food.
Reflecting on her experience, she said: “I don’t know how good my mum is before God that made him save me from all the evil that was about to befall me in Mali.”