Precious Godwin, a young woman from Benin, Edo State, has alleged that she was deceived by a friend, Sonia, into travelling to Mali with the promise of a business opportunity, only to discover she had been sold into prostitution.
Speaking on the Abdullahi Tahir Balarae Podcast, Godwin said she trusted Sonia’s assurances and agreed to make the trip without knowing its true purpose.
According to her, after arriving in Mali, Sonia handed her and other girls over to a woman identified as Madam Gold. Godwin said she initially believed she would begin a legitimate business but soon realised the situation was different.
Recalling the encounter, she said, “When we got there, we finished eating and bathing, Madam Gold came and asked me what is my name and I said, ‘My name is Precious.’ She said you can’t answer your real name here. I told her, ‘Please, can I call Sonia?’ She said yes.”
Godwin said Madam Gold’s instruction not to use her real name heightened her suspicion that something was wrong, prompting her to seek answers from Sonia about why the trip had taken an unexpected turn.
