Court Sentences Six for Stealing Children in Kano and Selling Them in Onitsha to 120 Years in Prison

A Kano State High Court has sentenced six individuals to a total of 120 years imprisonment for their involvement in the abduction and trafficking of children under the age of 10. The ruling marks the end of a lengthy legal process that began with the group’s arrest in 2019, following the abduction of several children from Kano in 2014. The victims were later sold in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The convicted individuals—Mercy Paul, Ebere Ogbono, Emmanuel Igwe, Loise Duru, Monica Oracha, and Chinelo Ifedigwe—were found guilty of multiple charges, including kidnapping, trafficking, concealment, and abetment. They were part of a wider syndicate that had operated for years before being dismantled by authorities.

Justice Zuwaira Yusuf delivered the judgment, handing down heavy sentences with no option of a fine. Mercy Paul received the longest sentence of 55 years, followed by Ebere Ogbono with 41 years, Emmanuel Igwe and Chinelo Ifedigwe with 9 years each, Loise Duru with 6 years, and Monica Oracha with 5 years.

The leader of the syndicate, Paul Onwe, had previously been sentenced to 104 years in July 2021 after pleading guilty to 38 counts related to the case. In contrast, the six recently convicted co-defendants had maintained their innocence throughout the trial but were ultimately found guilty based on the weight of evidence presented.