Nigerian Mother pleads for return of sons held in Germany

May 06, 2025

By Adesoja Adesoji

A Nigerian woman, Miss Adenike Obaoye, is urgently calling on the Nigerian and German governments to intervene in the detention of her two young sons by German authorities.

In a viral video, Adenike expressed her frustration and concern for the welfare of her children, who were taken into care by Germany’s youth welfare office, Jugendamt.

“I’m on my way to today’s court date, and I’m pleading for the return of my two non-German sons, who were taken away from me under dubious circumstances,” Adenike said.

According to her, the children were taken into care due to “accommodation excuses,” which she believes was just a pretext.

The children’s residency permits have expired while in Jugendamt’s care, and Adenike wants them returned to Nigeria.

“It’s time to return to our home country, give the children back, and let us go home,” she emphasized.

As their biological mother and sole custodian, Adenike questions why German authorities are reluctant to release her children. “I don’t know what the problem of Germans is. Why won’t they want to give back children that are not Germans to a single mother with legal sole custody?” she asked.

Adenike had obtained sole custody of her sons in Nigeria in 2022, anticipating potential complications

“I knew Germans were interested in my children, so I took proactive measures before this time,” she revealed.

The case reflects the complexities of international child custody disputes and the challenges faced by parents navigating different legal systems.

The Nigerian Embassy in Germany may play a role in assisting Adenike, given its responsibility for protecting the rights and interests of Nigerian citizens abroad.