Rescued Mum-of-two Recounts Why She Abandoned Her Family to Travel to Libya Through Alleged Human Trafficker

One of the four ladies rescued from Ganiat Ajilola, an alleged human trafficker, by the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command has recounted why she abandoned her two kids for the botched trip to Libya.

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According to Punch, the 26-year-old hairdresser and mum-of-two aged two and four respectively, Cecilia Bankole, said her husband opposed the trip, which made her to sneak out of the house, leaving her children behind.

She said:

“I told my husband to allow me to go so that I would have an opportunity to raise the funds for the family. I pleaded with him, but he opposed the idea and started watching the children, so I wouldn’t be able to take them with me.

Although, I am a hairdresser, I have not performed the necessary process for graduation. Going to Libya to work as an artisan would have enabled me to raise funds for my graduation, as well as take care of my family.

Even when my mother pleaded with my husband, assuring him that she would be taking care of the children while I would be away, he still opposed the trip.

The woman did not tell us the number of years we are going to spend in Libya. She only told us that we were going by road.”

However, the victim’s mother, Mrs. Maria Bankole, said Ajijola told her that her daughter would be re-united with her after two years.

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“I was informed that a big madam, whom Ganiat Ajijola was working for in Libya, needed hairdressers to help her manage her shop. I begged her husband, but he declined to allow her go on the trip.

However, I prayed about it and God said she should go. That is why I encouraged her to go.

I am not aware that they were going by road. They told me Ganiat (Ajilola) was taking my daughter and others to Abeokuta to arrange passports for them.”

Operatives of the RRS, who trailed the human trafficker for two weeks before her arrest, said they acted following a tip-off from the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.