From Tony Osauzo, Benin
It was a heartwarming and emotional reunion Thursday as a 20-year-old Edo State girl, Iwinosa Okunrobo, who was trafficked to Burkina Faso, was reunited with her family following Governor Monday Okpebholo’s intervention that led to her rescue.
Okunrobo was said to have been lured with a promise of greener pastures and trafficked to Burkina Faso when she was 15 years old.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and the Edo State Migration Agency, moved to ensure her safe return after a viral TikTok video of the victim surfaced where she pleaded to be rescued.
In Burkina Faso, Iwinosa was said to have been forced into prostitution and sold into slavery for many years before her rescue and reunion with her family.
At the reunion ceremony, which took place at the Festival Hall in Government House, Benin City, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo reiterated his government’s determination to ensure the strict enforcement of the law against human trafficking to the letter.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Rt Hon Samson Osagie, who represented Governor Okpebholo at the event, said it was yet another remarkable achievement of Senator Monday Okpebholo’s administration towards paying attention to the welfare and security of Edo citizens wherever they are across the globe.
He said the incident is another reminder that over the years, a vast majority of young people have fallen victim to the consequences of illegal migration and human trafficking perpetuated by persons who have no conscience.
“Our young daughter, Iwinosa Okunrobo, now represents the very many young people who have been unfortunate to be trafficked overseas with the promise of a better life in Europe.
“His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is committed to pursuing vigorously the implementation of the extant law, the Edo State Trafficking in Persons Law 2018, and to enforcing the penal provisions of the law. This law is designed to protect vulnerable women and children who have been most affected by the ugly incidence of human trafficking and illegal migration,” Osagie said.
Receiving the trafficked victim, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs Edesili Anani Okpebholo, expressed delight at the successful rescue and emphasised that Miss Iwinosa’s story serves as a testament to resilience.
She pledged that the government would provide Miss Iwinosa with the necessary care and support to help her recover from her ordeal.
Mrs Anani cautioned mothers against putting undue pressure on their young children, thereby thrusting family responsibilities onto their tender shoulders, adding that Iwinosa’s story should serve as a warning, highlighting the dangers of human trafficking and the importance of protecting children from exploitation.
The excited 40-year-old mother of the rescued girl, Mrs Imuetiyan Osabuoyen, expressed her gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo for bringing her daughter back. She denied any involvement or knowledge of how her daughter was trafficked.
The Director General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Mr Lucky Agazuma, who had travelled to Burkina Faso to ensure her safe return to Nigeria, also commended the commitment of Mrs Anani and Governor Monday Okpebholo for their support towards her return.
He cautioned parents not to be carried away by societal pressure, which he noted has been identified as one of the push factors, promising that the victim will be properly rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.