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The 18-year-old Sierra Leonean teenager, Isha Francess Dumbuya recently rescued from an alleged human trafficking scheme in Nigeria has issued a public statement denying involvement in prostitution and raising fresh allegations regarding a lack of support from the Sierra Leone High Commission.
In a follow-up video released to address public speculation and social media commentary, the teenager asserted that she was not sexually exploited during her ordeal.
“I am still a virgin,” she stated, citing a strict family upbringing. She explained that the clarification was necessary to counter rumors suggesting she had engaged in sex work after being lured to Nigeria under the guise of a Nollywood acting career.
The teenager also provided further details regarding her attempts to secure diplomatic assistance. She alleged that following her initial rejection by the Sierra Leone High Commission in Abuja, she returned to the embassy on the advice of her uncle to obtain a consular identification card for protection.
However, she claims officials demanded a fee of 5,000 Nigerian Naira (approximately Le 75 new leones) to process the document, despite her evident distress and lack of funds.
The case of Isha Francess Dumbuya has ignited outrage and concern across West Africa after she detailed her ordeal in a video interview with Nigerian influencer Martins Vincent Otse, known online as VeryDarkMan. The video has circulated widely, highlighting persistent human trafficking risks for young people seeking opportunities abroad.
Dumbuya recounted meeting a woman several times while selling cakes at a roadside stall in Freetown. The woman, a regular customer, allegedly offered her a secretive chance to become an actress in Nigeria, instructing her not to tell her family.
The journey began in April. Dumbuya said the woman transported approximately ten Sierra Leoneans through multiple countries, dropping some in Ghana and Mali. Only three, including Dumbuya, reportedly reached Nigeria.
Upon arrival, the promised acting job vanished. Dumbuya said she was pressured into prostitution. After refusing, she was ordered to repay the cost of her flight. She escaped, finding temporary shelter with a Muslim community in Asaba before traveling to Abuja to seek help from the Sierra Leonean Embassy.
