Salamatu Saidu trafficking conviction as Maiduguri court jails human trafficker for five years in landmark NAPTIP case

A High Court sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, has sentenced a human trafficker, Salamatu Saidu, to five years’ imprisonment after finding her guilty of fraudulent trafficking of two persons, in a ruling delivered on Monday, the same day she was arraigned.

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Justice Bukar M. Umar delivered the judgement against Salamatu Saidu, a 33-year-old female, following charges filed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, marking a swift conclusion to the case.

The Salamatu Saidu trafficking conviction stems from offences that contravened Section 26(2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, which criminalises the fraudulent facilitation of human movement through deception or unlawful means.

According to details shared by the agency on its official Facebook page, Salamatu Saidu was found guilty of facilitating the illegal movement of two individuals aged 21 and 33 years under false pretences.

The court held that the offence involved deliberate misrepresentation and unlawful facilitation of movement, which falls within the provisions of Nigeria’s anti-trafficking legislation.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons said the ruling demonstrates continued enforcement efforts aimed at dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring swift justice for offenders.

The agency noted that the conviction reflects its broader commitment to tackling human trafficking across the country, adding that similar successful prosecutions have been recorded in recent cases.

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Legal observers say the immediate sentencing underscores the judiciary’s increasing resolve to deal decisively with trafficking offences, which remain a persistent concern in parts of Nigeria.