One of the four women saved from being trafficked to Libya last week
has said she dumped her two children for her husband for the botched
trip.
According to the Nation newspaper, twenty-six-year-old Cecilia Bankole, a hairdresser and three others,
were rescued from a suspected trafficker, Ganiyat Ajijola, who was
arrested at Abule-Egba , Lagos by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives,
last Friday.
Her husband, she said, resisted her plan to abandon the children in search of job in Libya.
According to her, when the issue was discussed with her husband initially, he disagreed with the plan.
Bankole said:
“I told my husband to allow me to go so that I would
have an opportunity to raise funds for the family. I pleaded with him
but he insisted in having the custody of his children. Although, I am a
hairdresser but I have not graduated. So, going to Libya to work as an
artisan would enable me raise funds for my freedom as well as take care
of my family. Even, when my mother pleaded with him that she would be
taking care of the children while I will be away, he still declined.
However, after much persuasion, my husband threatened that if I go, he
would take the custody of the children and would never allow me to see
them again,” she added.
The suspected trafficker, she said, did not tell them how long they would stay in Libya.
“The trafficker didn’t tell us the number of years we are going to
spend in Libya. She only told us the due date of the passport and that
we are going by road,” she said.But her mother, Mrs Maria Bankole, said the suspect told her that her daughter would be re – united with her after two years.
“I was informed that a big madam, whom Ganiat Ajijola was working for
in Libya needs hairdressers to help her manage her shop. Upon hearing
that the people will be going abroad, I volunteered my daughter because
she is a hairdresser. I begged her husband but he declined to allow her
go on the trip but I have prayed about it and God said she should go.
That is why I am encouraging her”, she said.
Mrs Bankole, a prophetess, added:
“I followed them to the point where
they were arrested because I want to know Ajijola before their
departure. I am not aware they were going by road. They told me Ajijola
was taking them to Abeokuta to arrange an international passport for
them”.
RRS operatives, who had been trailing the suspect for weeks were
acting on a tip–off from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty
Alleviation.
The suspect and her victims have been immediately transferred to
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP).