A Kano State High Court has handed down a total of 120 years in prison to six members of a notorious child abduction and trafficking syndicate for their roles in kidnapping and selling children under the age of 10.
The convicts, Mercy Paul, Ebere Ogbono, Emmanuel Igwe, Loise Duru, Monica Oracha, and Chinelo Ifedigwe — were found guilty of multiple charges, including kidnapping, trafficking of minors, abetment, and concealment.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, marked the end of a lengthy six-year trial that drew national outrage and renewed focus on child trafficking in Nigeria.
The syndicate, which was arrested in 2019, was responsible for the abduction of several children from Kano as far back as 2014.
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The stolen children were reportedly trafficked and sold in Onitsha, Anambra State, according to an earlier report.
Justice Yusuf, in her ruling, sentenced the convicts as follows: Mercy Paul: 55 years imprisonment, Ebere Ogbono: 41 years, Emmanuel Igwe: 9 years, Loise Duru: 6 years, Monica Oracha: 5 years and Chinelo Ifedigwe: 9 years without the option of a fine.
The leader of the syndicate, Paul Onwe, had earlier pleaded guilty to 38 charges and was sentenced to 104 years in prison in July 2021.
Child rights advocates have praised the court’s decision, describing it as a significant step toward justice for the victims and a stern warning to traffickers across the country.