Veteran Yoruba actress Jumoke George has finally reunited with her 41-year-old daughter, Adeola, who was discovered in Mali after being missing for four years.
The emotional homecoming was made public by actress and Talk To B show host, Abiola Adebayo, who played a significant role in bringing attention to the case. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she shared the good news, writing, “Victory at last! Adeola is finally back home.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone that helped, I couldn’t have done this without your supports. Thank you Nigerians. Thank you to my dearest mummy Honorable Abike Dabiri @abikedabiri. Thank you to miss Yakubu Oyiza Hope #lunaoyiza. Thank you to my dear brother #adeniyijohnson.”
Earlier on Monday, the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed Adeola’s return, disclosing that she had been a victim of human trafficking.
“Breaking! Adeola, daughter of popular actress Jumoke George, who cried out that she had not heard from her daughter in four years, is back home from Mali, where she was trafficked,” she posted.
The story first gained public attention when Jumoke George, in a deeply emotional episode of TalkToB, opened up about the struggles she had faced, including deteriorating health and the pain of her missing daughter. She revealed she had been living in a church for the past six years, hiding her ordeal due to fear of stigma.
“There are some things that are embarrassing to say, but at this point, I have no choice. I want to speak out. I am working, but it’s not like I get jobs every time,” she said tearfully.
“My first child, Adeola, has been missing. I’ve been looking for her for the past four years. Any small amount of money I got from work was spent looking for her,” she added.
Jumoke recounted that Adeola had been staying in Ibadan with her grandmother before she disappeared. “My mother just called me one day to say that she hadn’t seen Deola, who said she was coming to meet me in Lagos. I said I haven’t seen her,” she recalled.
The actress later received a call from Adeola, who pleaded for forgiveness and revealed that she had left Nigeria with friends in search of a better life but ended up facing unexpected hardships.
Dabiri praised the efforts of those involved in reuniting the mother and daughter, saying, “Just received her, with Biola Adebayo, who broke the story, and Niyi Johnson. Details later!”
The reunion marks a joyful turning point for Jumoke George, who had quietly endured years of emotional turmoil while holding onto hope for her daughter’s return.