Ade’s story
Many of Baobab’s young people do not want to be identified, but are keen to share their experiences of the abuses they have been subjected to, in order to prevent further abuse. 982 children were identified as victims of trafficking in the UK in 2015. This is the story of one of them…
Kidnapped from his country
I grew up in Nigeria. My dad is Muslim and my mum Christian. They were always kind. I love my family, they understand each other. One day I went to school and on my way back I just saw a car parking next to me. Two men came up and they just took me into their car. They drove a long, long way before they took me inside a ship.
“I tried my best. I told them everything. I said I was kidnapped from my country. But they don’t believe me.”
Escaped to safety but sent to Immigration Detention
After 3 years, Ade was taken to Mauritania and then to Tenerife. From there the wife of a trafficker helped him to escape to the UK. At the airport, they put me in a room and started interviewing me. Because my English at that time was really bad. I couldn’t say something better to them so that they could understand me.
Ade was put into Immigration Detention. His claim for asylum was refused. The Home Office they don’t believe. They don’t believe your age, they don’t believe your story. They will just make their decision. To be honest, they don’t give you a reason. They will just say “You’re a liar, you’re a liar.”
I don’t want anyone to suffer like I have
Ade came to Baobab Centre in the early 2000’s. In 2011 his asylum appeal was successful and he was granted leave to remain for 5 years. He is now working and studying towards a career in Health and Social Care.
“I never had any freedom like this before in my life. Except when I was 8 or 9 in my country. What happened to me does make me feel like life is too short to treat ourselves like slaves. So I don’t want anyone to suffer like I have.”