A Kano State High Court has sentenced six individuals to a combined 120 years in prison for their roles in a disturbing child abduction and trafficking ring that operated across northern and southeastern Nigeria.
Presiding over the case, Justice Zuwaira Yusuf delivered the ruling on Monday, marking the end of a protracted trial that began following the suspects’ arrest in 2019. The syndicate had abducted multiple children from Kano as early as 2014 and sold them in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The convicts — Mercy Paul, Ebere Ogbono, Emmanuel Igwe, Loise Duru, Monica Oracha, and Chinelo Ifedigwe — were found guilty of various charges including abduction, concealment, abetment, and trafficking of minors.
Justice Yusuf imposed the following sentences:
Mercy Paul: 55 years, Ebere Ogbono: 41 years, Emmanuel Igwe: 9 years, Chinelo Ifedigwe: 9 years, Loise Duru: 6 years, Monica Oracha: 5 years
All six sentences are to be served without the option of a fine.
The syndicate’s leader, Paul Onwe, had earlier pleaded guilty to 38 counts in a separate hearing and was sentenced to 104 years in prison in 2021. Unlike Onwe, the six newly convicted individuals denied the charges, prompting years of courtroom proceedings.
The case, which drew widespread public attention, highlighted growing concerns about the prevalence of child trafficking in Nigeria. It also raised alarms about the need for improved interstate coordination and stronger safeguards for vulnerable children.
The judgment has been hailed by child protection advocates as a step forward in Nigeria’s fight against human trafficking, though many insist that long-term solutions lie in prevention and better social safety structures.
