The Nigerian woman who was put up for sale by a Lebanese on Facebook has been rescued. Peace Busari Ufuoma’s liberation was announced by the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Ufuoma is now with the Nigerian Mission in Beirut, Lebanon Dabiri-Erewa said, The Punch reported. “The Nigerian girl who was trafficked and put for sale by a Lebanese man, Wael Jerro, has been rescued. She is presently with the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon,” she wrote on Twitter.
The Lebanese national Wael Jerro last Tuesday announced the sale of 30-year-old Ufuoma on the Facebook marketplace called ‘Buy and Sell In Lebanon’.
In the disturbing advertisement, Jerro placed a $1000 bill on the Nigerian, who is said to be a domestic worker in the middle eastern country.
He posted the advertisement in Arabic alongside the passport of the Nigerian saying: “Domestic worker from Nigeria for sale with new legal documents. She’s 30 years old, she’s very active and very clean. Price: $1,000.”
In the video accompanying Dabiri-Erewa’s tweet, Ufuoma shared her ghastly experience. “I told him if he knows that he can’t pay my salary, he should take me back to,” she requested—a request that would land her on social media trading platform being offered for sale.
Update on Nigerian girl put up for sale by a Lebanese, Wael Jerro on Facebook. She has been rescued and safely with officials of the Nigerian Mission in Beirut . Thanks @cbngov_akin1 . for bringing the matter to our attention. More updates later @Ayourb pic.twitter.com/4hPrmZ6rqm
— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) April 28, 2020
The rescue comes days after the arrest of Jerro by Lebanese security operatives. “Many thanks to the Nigerian mission in Lebanon for swinging into immediate action,” Dabiri-Erewa’s tweet said.
The incident was first brought to the limelight by an Instagram user, @thereneeabisaad. She called on the Nigerian government to save the victim. “This is inhuman. I have reported to the Nigerian embassy. Please do the same if you know anyone in the Nigerian embassy in Lebanon,” she wrote.
A manhunt for Jerro was launched after the Nigerian mission in Lebanon reported to the host authorities about the nefarious incident. The Lebanese government condemned the action of its citizen, describing it as “illegal and inhuman.” The government vowed to prosecute Jerro for trafficking.