The family of Obinna Okeadu, a 33-year-old engineer from Mbano, Imo State, has cried out for justice following his alleged gruesome death in a Myanmar-based job scam centre linked to a notorious human trafficking ring operating between Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Okechukwu Okeadu, the victim’s elder brother, urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intervene and investigate the circumstances surrounding Obinna’s death, as well as rescue dozens of other Nigerians reportedly trapped in the same camp.
According to the family, the job scam centre—previously operating in Nigeria before it was shut down for fraudulent activities—relocated to Southeast Asia, where it allegedly lures unsuspecting Africans with promises of high-paying factory or IT jobs.
“My brother was invited by a company in Myanmar claiming to offer factory work. He left in August this year, not knowing he was walking into a death camp,” Okechukwu said.
Upon arrival, victims reportedly have their travel documents seized and are forced to meet unrealistic financial “targets.” Those who fail are allegedly subjected to brutal punishment, sold to other centres, or even have their organs harvested to “recover investment” costs, including airfare.
Eyewitness accounts from an inmate, shared secretly with the family, claimed that Obinna was beaten and injected with harmful substances after he complained of exhaustion.
“He was tired and couldn’t continue with the day’s task. The supervisors descended on him, hitting him with hard objects and injecting him. After that, his health deteriorated rapidly until he died,” the source alleged.
The family said they have not received any official confirmation from the operators of the centre regarding Obinna’s death or whereabouts.
“We want to see our son’s body. We want to know if he’s dead or alive. We were told he was tortured until urine was dripping from his organ. Some sources even said his organs may have been harvested,” the family cried.
They further appealed to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant international agencies to investigate the underground “slave camps” in Myanmar and Cambodia, and ensure that other Nigerians still trapped there are rescued.
“The Federal Government must not allow this to go unchecked. Other young Nigerians are still being held in those camps,” Okechukwu said.
The alleged “cyber-slave camps,” often disguised as online job hubs, have been under international scrutiny following reports of forced labour, torture, and human trafficking targeting Africans and Asians in Southeast Asia.
