July 14, (THEWILL) – An Oman returnee, Funmilayo Victoria Fehintola, has appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid to enable her start a new life after what she described as her harrowing ordeal in the Middle-East country where she sojourned in search of greener pastures before her deportation in March 2021.
Reports had it that the 31-year-old indigene of Ondo arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos aboard an Emirates airplane in a depressed state and was found roaming the vicinity of the International Wing by a Good Samaritan, Mr. Thompson Oladapo.
Narrating her ordeal at the South Westshire Health Trust (SWHT) facility (Tayese) in Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State, where she has undergone rehabilitation, the former footballer said, “I passed through a lot in Oman; I was forced to do many things against my wish.
“My employer whipped me with cane. I mistakenly broke a tile one day and he took me to the police station, the place wasn’t just a police facility but a prison. They will invoke some mystical incantations on me most times; but I thank I am alive. They threatened severally that they will throw me out of the country alleging that I am not working to their satisfaction. But I work 24 hours. I was assaulted by my employer severally, they owed me wages, I was drugged and at the end they deported me.’’
She said: “I was in a depressed state when I was deported; I have been sick and was brought in here by the management of the SWHT. I am grateful to Tayese for rehabilitating me. Now I want to live my normal life and appeal for assistance to enable start something meaningful.’’
Chief Executive Officer of the South Westshire Health Trust and a former Member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Daniel Onadeko, said: ‘’Sometimes in March, after being deported from Oman, Funmi was in a depressed condition. Nigerians drew our attention to it. The South West Health Trust is responsible for the treatment of people with severe mental challenges.’
“As our attention was brought to it, we contacted the family and we requested to bring her down to this trust. When she got here, we saw she was in a very depressed condition, she was a little bit aggressive and she was keeping so much to herself so we thereafter started the treatment.’
“For the first three weeks, she was just on her own; she wasn’t talking to anybody, not mixing with fellows and was just on her bed.
“That was in April, now, we want to say we thank God Funmi Victoria Fehintola is good to be integrated back into society.
“She is such a fragile lady who cannot withstand such pressure, and so we want to use this opportunity to say that Nigerians who want to help her should please contact the family. She needs the support of Nigerians to be able to go on with her life. We have done our own part and we thank everybody for giving us the opportunity to play our role in the service to humanity.’’
Funmi was later handed over to her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Fehintola, and her elder sister, Esther Okonkwo, who expressed joy at being reunited with their relation.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
