The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has successfully rescued Adeola, the 41-year-old daughter of veteran Yoruba actress Jumoke George, after a harrowing four-year ordeal in Mali where she was reportedly trafficked.
NiDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced the rescue operation on Monday through her X (formerly Twitter) account, bringing relief to the distressed mother who had been searching for her daughter for years.
"Breaking! Adeola, daughter of popular actress Jumoke George, who cried out that she had not heard from her daughter in four years, is back home from Mali, where she was trafficked to. Just received her, with Biola Adebayo who broke the story, and Niyi Johnson. Details later!" Dabiri-Erewa wrote.
The rescue comes shortly after a viral video surfaced showing Jumoke George in tears as she detailed multiple personal tragedies including homelessness, deteriorating health, mounting debt, and the mysterious disappearance of her daughter.
In the emotional video shared by actress Abiola Ayomide Adebayo, the once-celebrated actress revealed her dire circumstances, pleading for public support.
"Dear Nigerians, please pray for me. I have never ruined anyone's life. I am tired, I can no longer bear it. I don't have a home, I don't have anything, and a child of mine is missing," she said in the video.
Jumoke disclosed that she had been living in a church for over five years, relying on charity for shelter and food. She also revealed serious health challenges that began in January, requiring expensive medical tests including brain and heart scans estimated at N400,000.
"I have been sick since January 2nd. I've done several tests and now need brain and heart scans. It costs N400,000, and I don't know where to get the money," she explained.
The actress's situation highlights the growing concern about human trafficking from Nigeria to other African countries. Mali has been identified as one of the destination countries where Nigerian women and girls are often trafficked for various exploitative purposes.
While details of how Adeola was trafficked or the circumstances of her stay in Mali remain unclear, her rescue marks a significant achievement for NiDCOM, which has been working to protect the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora.
This rescue operation adds to NiDCOM's growing list of interventions for Nigerians abroad, including previous rescues of trafficked individuals from various countries.
