A Bauchi State High Court has sentenced a 36-year-old man, Umar Faruq, to five years in prison after finding him guilty of exploiting a minor, a case brought against him by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Justice Makama, who delivered the judgment, also slammed the convict with a total fine of N3 million—N2 million for obtaining possession of a two-year-old child for exploitation and an additional N1 million for facilitating the act, as stipulated under Section 21 and Section 13(4)(c) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

“Both sentences are to run concurrently,”the court ruled, reinforcing Nigeria’s legal stance against human trafficking and child exploitation.

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The verdict, which was confirmed in an official statement released by NAPTIP on Friday, has been lauded as a significant step in the fight against human trafficking in the country.

Faruq’s conviction underscores the agency’s efforts to curb child exploitation and ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report cases of trafficking to ensure justice for victims.

As Nigeria intensifies its crackdown on human trafficking, this case serves as a warning that perpetrators will not escape justice.