Titi
Read the story of Titi, who was sexually abused while in Libya and is now pregnant. IOM assisted her to return to Nigeria from Libya with funding from the #AfricaTrustFund.
“I finished my National Diploma but I could not find any work. I was passionate about photography so I decided to learn it but I did not have enough money to buy a camera. I tried different jobs like BRT, sales girl and ticketing.
I left Nigeria in April 2018. I was told by a certain woman that there was work in South Africa and that she would settle my travel experiences. The plan was that I would work for one year and 6 months. I wanted to help my parents so I took the offer. I wanted a better life for myself and my four years old daughter.
Instead of taking me to South Africa like she promised, the woman took me to Kano, then Agadez in Niger and Saba in Libya. In Saba, we were sold to people who in turn sold us to a brothel.
One night, some men broke into the room where we slept in the brothel and raped us. This was one of the most traumatising events of my life. I haven’t seen my period since then.
I went in and out of about four prisons in Libya. Eventually my boga (smuggler) had to send N700,000 (USD xxx) naira for my release.
I didn't even know I was in Libya. I have seen girls talk about their experiences in Libya. I didn’t think I would end up like them. If I had known, I would never have embarked on the journey.”