Itunu Babalola, a Nigerian incarcerated in Côte d’Ivoire on charges of human trafficking, has reportedly died in prison.
Babalola reportedly got entangled in a legal battle when she reported to the police that her house in Bondoukou, Cote d’Ivoire, had been burgled.
She was said to have been charged to court and the prosecutor in collaboration with the police allegedly compromised the case and accused her of human trafficking.
Babalola was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The sentence was later reduced to 10 years.
On March 14, David Hundeyin, a journalist, had posted Babalola’s story on Twitter. The post went viral and eventually gained the attention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, NIDCOM chief executive officer, in a statement, had confirmed the report at the time, saying the commission was doing all it can to secure the release of Babalola.
On Sunday, however, Hundeyin, who had been following the case, gave updates on Twitter that Babalola had contracted an infection in prison and was dying.
“I have just received a message from Cote d’Ivoire about Itunu Babalola. She is still in prison in Abidjan where she has contracted a serious infection and apparently she is dying,” he wrote.
I have just received a message from Cote d’Ivoire about Itunu Babalola. She is still in prison in Abidjan where she has contracted a serious infection and apparently she is dying.
All those promises by NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri, OYSG etc – audio.
She’s finally dying. https://t.co/OZ6wSzFpeK pic.twitter.com/dGPok2AxJ9
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
In a later tweet, Hundeyin announced that Babalola is dead.
“Itunu is dead. She died this night. Just confirmed,” he wrote.
Itunu is dead.
She died this night.
Just confirmed.
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
Many Nigerians took to the comment section to express their anger over the matter.
@henrytwitts tweeted “@abikedabiri you once stated this girl is in safe hands. you tweeted the foreign affiars ministry were on deck to abidjan to save this lady. i’m not quite surprise when even in our own country, we fall prey/victim of circumstance not to talk of needing help when we away. damn ?”
@abikedabiri you once stated this girl is in safe hands. you tweeted the foreign affiars ministry were on deck to abidjan to save this lady. i’m not quite surprise when even in our own country, we fall prey/victim of circumstance not to talk of needing help when we away. damn ?
— oluola (@henrytwittts) November 14, 2021
“They did nothing to save her, because she’s a nobody, cos I know when her case came up I it were to be one of them family member they will do everything to get her out. May her soul rest in peace,” @temithanks22 wrote.
They did nothing to save her, because she’s a nobody, cos I know when her case came up I it were to be one of them family member they will do everything to get her out.
May her soul rest in leace
— #keepiton #ONDOBOY?? (@Temithanks22) November 14, 2021
Another user, @silazkings tweeted “This is the height of it all ☹️☹️. It’s a shame to be called “GAINT OF AFRICAN”.. this country is a shit hole. Our leaders keep doing what they know how to do best, failing their citizens.”
This is the height of it all ☹️☹️.
It’s a shame to be called “GAINT OF AFRICAN”.. this country is a shit hole.
Our leaders keep doing what they know how to do best, failing their citizens. https://t.co/9yFwXsoLfP
— SilasKįñgž (@SilasKingz) November 15, 2021
@nsogbu001 also wrote “#MBuhari #ProfOsibanjo Nigeria failed this young soul. It’s a shame to Nigeria. We can’t even save our own, how are we even safe in this hellhole.”
#MBuhari#ProfOsibanjo
Nigeria failed this young soul
It’s a shame to Nigeria
We can’t even save our own,how are we even safe in this hellhole https://t.co/RUbTpQcQSs
— Remy (@nsogbu001) November 14, 2021
