Speaking to the BBC, she said a family friend from church promised she would complete her studies in the UK if she agreed to work as a nanny for the wealthy couple.
She added that she looked forward to the prospect of kickstarting her life in the UK as her father had lost his shop to an inferno earlier, making it difficult to cater for his family of five children. Being the first, she had thought it was a gateway to progress her dreams of studying.
She moved to the UK on a six-month tourist visa, beginning what she thought would be a means of achieving her dream of completing her studies.
Although she said her employers were pleasant at first, giving her a room in their four-bed apartment, she soon found out there was more expected of her.
She said she was taken to a restaurant owned by the couple, where she would cook and clean from 5 pm to 5 am for six days a week, and on her only day off, she did more chores at home.
She said it was difficult to reach her family in Nigeria as she was watched by CCTV. She only had such opportunity when she took their little girl to the park.
She said her mother kept asking how she was doing but she could not reveal the true picture of her condition and lied that she was alright.
She said COVID-19 has made her situation worse as her colleagues at the restaurant left, leaving her to cook and clean all night.
The wife also returned to Nigeria, which meant she had sole care of her daughter.
“The man abused me in so many ways. Sexually, emotionally, physically.
“He raped me countless times because I can’t talk to anybody.
“My life was hell,” she cried.
Her escape came when she confided in a friend at the restaurant, who over months persuaded her to go to the police.
At first she was very reluctant because the couple made her fear the authorities.
“I didn’t have that confidence any more because I didn’t see myself as good enough, I didn’t see myself as a human being.
“I see people every day, they see me laugh and smile. Inside I’m crying,” she said.
The Salvation Army says the couple who allegedly forced her to work for them were arrested and interviewed by police. No charges have been brought and inquiries continue.
She has received an initial decision from the Home Office to say there are “reasonable grounds” to say she is a victim of modern slavery but is awaiting a “conclusive grounds” determination, which can take many months.
