Three Nigerian women detained in Karada Prison, Baghdad, Iraq, have called on the Nigerian government for immediate intervention to facilitate their return home.
The women, identified as Adetunji Opeyemi Elizabeth, 36, Aladetan Rachael Tinuola, 28, and Adebayo Blessing Favour, 24, were arrested for lacking residence permits.
The women, speaking through a phone interview arranged by Nigeria-based human rights group Hopes Haven Foundation, clarified that they were not trafficked to Iraq but traveled there willingly in search of better opportunities.
Adetunji, a graduate who had struggled to find work in Nigeria since 2013, said her visa was processed by a trusted agent, Adekunle Oladiola.
Upon arrival in Iraq, however, they were met by an agency whose name they could not identify due to language barriers.
The agency placed them in temporary jobs, including caregiving and salon work, but Adetunji reported facing unsafe working conditions and threats from an employer, prompting her to return to the agency’s office.
The office later closed down, leaving her without a job or accommodation.
The women were arrested in September 2024 for not having residence permits. While they have expressed willingness to return to Nigeria and offered to fund their own tickets, immigration authorities have reportedly delayed the process.
Adetunji described the prison conditions as challenging, citing poor food quality that has affected their health.
“Sometimes they bring spoiled food. I go days without eating because I can’t cope,” she said, adding that she suffers from severe back pain and needs medical assistance.
The women’s plight points out the challenges faced by Nigerian migrants in countries without Nigerian embassies, such as Iraq.
While Nigerian embassies in neighboring countries often extend support, the lack of direct representation in Iraq has left the detained women isolated.
Adetunji has appealed to the Nigerian government to expedite their repatriation, stating her deteriorating health and the unsafe conditions they face in detention.
