A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has sentenced a man to twelve years’ imprisonment for human trafficking.
The 38-year old convict, Samuel Ufor Papa, was found guilty on a 3-count charge bordering on aiding and abetting the trafficking of a 20-year Nigerian, Cynthia Ude to Mali for prostitution.
The case which was filed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in 2018 was a product of painstaking investigation culminating in the arrest and prosecution of the convict. The agency hopes that this conviction will help in dissuading many others desirous of joining the illicit trade.
In a related development, the Oyo State Government has disclosed its plan to facilitate the repatriation of about 40 female indigenes of the state believed to be engaged in slavery in Lebanon.
Announcing the plan, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Affairs, Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu said the state government is working in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Diaspora Matters headed by Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
It will be recalled that the Oyo State Government has helped rescue many other of its state indigenes who have been trapped abroad as slaves in the recent past.
By Uzogara Mcdonald Tobechukwu