Businesswoman and reality TV star, Laura Ikeji has raised concerns over the growing number of young Nigerian women expressing interest in relocating to Libya, despite widespread reports of trafficking, exploitation and abuse associated with such journeys.

Her alarm was triggered after coming across a TikTok video in which a survivor tearfully recounted her ordeal after being trafficked to the North African country.

Speaking in a video shared on her Instagram page, Ikeji appealed directly to young women planning to embark on the trip, questioning why anyone would knowingly risk their life in such a manner.

She described the situation as deeply troubling, noting that the survivor in the video had narrated how she was trafficked, forced into prostitution, and beaten daily by her madam to extract money, only for people in the comment section to ask for the contact of the same trafficker in hopes of taking the same route.

She expressed disbelief at the reactions trailing the video, pointing out that the young woman had also spoken about surviving a boat disaster in which nearly a hundred people died, leaving her as one of only four survivors, before she was eventually imprisoned. Despite recounting such harrowing details in tears, many viewers still sought a way to follow the same path, a development Ikeji said reflected how desperate many young Nigerians had become in their search for greener pastures abroad.

Ikeji stressed that no matter how difficult things appeared at home, becoming a victim of modern day slavery in a foreign country was never the answer. She urged young women to recognise their worth, remain patient with their circumstances in Nigeria, and work towards building a better future through legitimate means, including applying for visas through proper and legal channels rather than risking their lives on dangerous and unregulated migration routes.

Photo Credit: mynigeria