A family in Imo State is in deep mourning and demanding justice following the mysterious and gruesome death of their son, Engr. Obinna Okeadu, who reportedly died inside a suspected human trafficking and job scam camp operated by a criminal syndicate in Myanmar, allegedly connected to a recruitment network in Thailand.
The 33-year-old engineer, who hailed from Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, was said to have fallen victim to a well-organized international trafficking ring that preys on unemployed young Africans, offering them fake employment opportunities in Asia.
Family sources say Obinna had been promised a lucrative factory job in Thailand with “juicy salary packages” and free accommodation. However, the offer turned out to be a cruel deception. He was instead transported to Myanmar, where he ended up in what survivors describe as a “death camp” a torture centre where victims are forced to work under inhuman conditions.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja over the weekend, Okechukwu Okeadu, the deceased’s elder brother, recounted how his family’s hopes for a better future were shattered.
“Obinna was a brilliant young engineer who wanted to improve his life,” Okechukwu said with tears in his eyes. “He told us he got a job offer from a company in Thailand. We were so happy for him. We never knew he was walking into a trap.”
According to him, Obinna left Nigeria in August this year, after receiving travel documents and an employment letter from the supposed company. The family later learned that the offer was fake and that Obinna had been taken to a syndicate’s camp located between Myanmar and Cambodia.
“When he arrived, his passport and other documents were seized,” Okechukwu explained. “He was given impossible targets to meet, and anyone who failed was beaten, starved, or resold to another camp.”
Investigations by the family revealed that the syndicate’s operation stretches across Southeast Asia, with camps in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Victims are lured from Africa and other developing regions with promises of employment in customer service, technology, or factory jobs.
Upon arrival, they are forced into cybercrime, manual labour, and extortion schemes under strict supervision. Those who refuse to work are allegedly subjected to severe torture, starvation, and even organ harvesting.
A distress message secretly sent by one of Obinna’s fellow inmates described how he was brutally punished after complaining of fatigue.
“Obinna said he was tired and couldn’t continue work that day,” the message read. “The supervisors tied him up, beat him with metal rods, and injected him with something. After that, he could barely move. Later, we heard he was gone.”
Another source close to the family said there were reports that Obinna’s organs may have been removed after his death.
“We heard he was tortured until he passed out,” the source said. “Someone inside told us they might have harvested his organs to recover the money they spent on bringing him.”
Despite several attempts to reach the camp operators, the Okeadu family says they have received no official communication about Obinna’s whereabouts or remains.
“We want to see his body whether dead or alive,” Okechukwu cried. “No one deserves to die this way. We just want justice and closure.”
The family is now appealing to the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene urgently through diplomatic channels to uncover the truth behind Obinna’s death and rescue other Nigerians still trapped in similar camps.
“There are many other Nigerians being held in those camps,” the family warned. “We are calling on the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Labour, and Humanitarian Affairs to take immediate action. Every minute counts.”
The tragedy has renewed calls for stronger anti-trafficking measures and more effective monitoring of foreign job recruitment agencies operating in Nigeria.
Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that thousands of young Africans have been lured into such syndicates, particularly in Southeast Asia, over the past three years.
Earlier this year, the Nigerian government reportedly shut down several fake recruitment agencies and deported foreign nationals linked to cross-border human trafficking operations. However, there are reports that some of these groups have since relocated their operations to Myanmar and Cambodia, where they continue to exploit victims through sophisticated online job scams.
Analysts say the latest incident underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Asian governments to dismantle these camps and repatriate victims safely.
For the Okeadu family, the pain remains unbearable.
“Obinna’s only crime was searching for a better life,” Okechukwu said softly. “We just want justice and to make sure no other family goes through this nightmare.”
The family is urging the Federal Government to launch a thorough investigation into the case, demand accountability from the countries involved, and provide support for families of victims still trapped abroad.
“The government must intervene,” the family reiterated. “We want to know why our son was subjected to such inhuman treatment and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
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