National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Tayo Olanipekun
Nigerian ladies living in Oman have appealed to the Federal Government and Nigerians in general to come to their rescue so as to return home from the “harsh working conditions” they face in the Gulf state.
A lot of them have been victims of human trafficking and are, therefore, appealing for help.
In three different voice notes sent through the social media by a user believed to be in the US and rendered in Yoruba and English languages during the week, the ladies described their plight as that of persons in a kidnapping syndicate vehicle, popularly called ‘One Chance’ in Nigeria.
They said the inhuman treatment they go through daily include working about 20 hours, including when sick, and beatings and imprisonment if they refuse to work.
In one of the messages, a lady who went by the pseudonym, Korikosun Ajoke, said disobedience led her to the present travails as her experience has now shown that only a person who has chosen to end his or her live should ever think of coming to work in Oman.
She added that the agents would have tricked unsuspecting job seekers to that country before they know the difficult conditions under which they work.
“Most of us are artisans but the authority won’t allow us practice as the agents said they had paid for our lives.Most of us now suffer incurable ailments, including back pains and blindness, yet we work under life threatening conditions,” she lamented.
Another lady who did not mention her name said she knew she was coming to work as house maid but the agents did not tell her it was Oman she was coming.
“I have worked here for about one year with no day off and I work from 4:30 am to 12 midnight everyday. The agents told me they were arranging UAE visa for me but here am in Oman. Please, we are dying here,” she sobbed.
She said they face untimely deaths and terminal illnesses in Oman because of the maltreatment from the bosses who call them slaves, daily.
In the third voice note, in which a lady spoke in smattering English, the victim said they earn about $100 monthly for long hours of work and they are poorly fed.
“Please,listen to my voice and let us put a stop to human trafficating (sic). A lady in our whatsapp group was this morning beaten up for refusing to work.I am crying loudly(sic). My madam called me a slave this morning. She said Nigerians are slaves but I know we’re not,” said the lady.
She added that her agent took N700,000 from her for the trip in addition to what they took from the householder for the services of the Nigerian lady in a two -year contract that can’t be terminated.
The ladies said family members in Nigeria are often called upon to pay for their bail when imprisoned for refusing to work.
They, therefore, said the appeal is urgent for the Nigerian government to liaise with its Omani counterpart for the sake of Nigerians in the unfavourable working environment.
National Wire has not been able to verify the origin of the voice notes.
