By Hadiza Abdulkadir
A Kano State High Court has handed down a combined sentence of 120 years to six members of a notorious child abduction and trafficking syndicate found guilty of abducting and selling children under the age of 10.
The convicts, who operated between Kano and Onitsha, Anambra State, were charged with multiple counts of child abduction, trafficking, and conspiracy. According to court records, the group abducted several young children from various parts of Kano and trafficked them across state lines to Onitsha, where the children were sold.
Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, who presided over the case, found all six guilty as charged and sentenced them to various prison terms without the option of a fine.
Justice Yusuf described the crimes as “heinous and inhuman,” noting that the syndicate’s actions had caused “unimaginable trauma to innocent families.”
She sentenced Mercy Paul to 55 years imprisonment, Ebere Ogbono to 41 years, Emmanuel Igwe to 9 years, Loius Duru to 6 years, Monica Oracha to 5 years, and Chinelo Ifedigwe to 9.
The verdict follows years of investigation and cooperation between security agencies in Kano and Anambra. Parents of the abducted children expressed relief at the ruling, calling it a step toward justice.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining missing children and dismantle the broader trafficking network.