Physically challenged woman rescued after she was trafficked to Mali for prostitution

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - A 22-year-old physically challenged Nigerian woman, Njoku Nnena, has been rescued after she was trafficked to Mali for pr0stitution. 

Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation disclosed this in a statement issued by its founder, Prosper Michael, on Monday, April 6, 2026, punch reported. 

In an interview, the victims said economic hardship and family responsibilities pushed her to seek opportunities outside her home state.

The victim explained that her journey began in Onitsha and later moved to Lagos, where she met individuals who linked her to traffickers.

“I wanted to support my three-year-old son and help my mother. That was why I decided to travel,” she explained. 

“In Lagos, I was introduced to a woman around an under bridge. From there, arrangements were made for me to travel,” she said.

She was subsequently transported through Cotonou in the Benin Republic before arriving in Mali, where she was handed over to another member of the trafficking network.

On arrival, Nnena said she was placed in a house with other Nigerian girls under the control of a “madam.”

“We were forced into prostitution and asked to send money to them, even though we didn’t understand the terms,” she alleged.

Her ordeal worsened due to her health condition. 

Nnena, who suffers from epilepsy resulting from a childhood stroke, said she ran out of medication during the journey.

“I didn’t have my drugs with me, and my condition became worse. I couldn’t continue what they asked me to do,” she said.

She was eventually sent back to Nigeria and later rescued with the intervention of GAHTO, arriving on Easter Friday.

Speaking on the development, her mother, Ipe Ikenna Lora, recounted her daughter’s long-standing health challenges.

“She started having convulsions at the age of two, which later led to coma and developed into epilepsy with memory loss,” she said.

 Lora added that the situation contributed to the breakdown of her marriage.

“My husband left, blaming me for her condition. Since then, I have been taking care of her alone while running a small business,” she said.

She noted that the burden has affected her health, leading to high blood pressure, and revealed that her daughter’s condition sometimes causes her to wander away from home.

“I didn’t even know she had travelled to Mali until GAHTO contacted me after rescuing her,” she added.

Nnena appealed for support to rebuild her life.

“I want to go back to school or learn a skill so I can take care of myself. I also need medical treatment to manage my condition,” she said.

Her mother also appealed to government agencies and well-meaning individuals for assistance

"I 'm asking for help so my daughter can have a stable life again,” she said.

In response, the group raised fresh concern over a growing surge in human trafficking cases involving young women in Nigeria. 

The group said the latest case reflects a broader and troubling pattern of trafficking across West Africa, particularly targeting vulnerable young women facing economic hardship and health challenges.

“This case is not isolated. It highlights a growing trend of trafficking in the region,” the organization said.

GAHTO specifically urged key stakeholders, including Chioma D. Uzodinma and Nkechinyere Ugwu, to take immediate and coordinated action.

It also emphasised the need for increased public awareness, stronger preventive frameworks, and sustainable rehabilitation programmes for survivors.

“The situation underscores the urgent need for collective action to combat human trafficking and support victims in rebuilding their lives with dignity and hope,” the organisation added.

It, therefore, called on government authorities to urgently implement support measures to rehabilitate victims and prevent further occurrences.