A Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has sentenced a 37-year-old woman, Fatima Sanda, to two years’ imprisonment for procuring a 16-year-old girl for sexual exploitation, in a case that has renewed attention on the protection of minors from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The court, presided over by Justice Aisha M. Ndume, also ordered Sanda to pay ₦500,000 in compensation to the victim following her conviction for an offence under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as amended.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons secured the conviction on Monday, according to information released by the agency and reported on Wednesday.
In a statement published on its official Facebook page, NAPTIP said Sanda was found guilty of procuring the teenage girl and subjecting her to sexual exploitation by other persons, contrary to Section 16(1) of the anti-trafficking law.
The conviction underscores the criminal consequences of exploiting minors and using them for sexual purposes, particularly where vulnerable young people are exposed to abuse by individuals who should not facilitate or profit from their exploitation.
The court’s order for compensation also provides a financial remedy for the victim, although the available information did not specify whether the payment had been made.
The case is one of two recent convictions involving the sexual abuse of minors highlighted by NAPTIP, with another court in Niger State sentencing a 27-year-old man to seven years’ imprisonment for assaulting an eight-year-old girl.
The Niger State case involved Hussaini Suleiman, who was convicted by the state High Court sitting in Minna after pleading guilty to the offence.
According to NAPTIP, the case was referred to its Niger State Command by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps following a report of the rape of the minor.
The referral was made on April 16, 2026, while Suleiman was arraigned before Court 8 of the Niger State High Court on September 10, 2026.
The agency said Suleiman admitted to committing the offence before the court sentenced him to seven years in prison.
The two cases highlight separate instances in which Nigerian courts have imposed prison terms on individuals convicted of offences involving minors.
While Sanda was sentenced to two years for procuring a 16-year-old girl for sexual exploitation, Suleiman received seven years for assaulting an eight-year-old girl.
NAPTIP continues to play a central role in investigating and prosecuting human trafficking and related offences, working alongside other law enforcement agencies to secure convictions under Nigeria’s anti-trafficking legislation.
The agency’s disclosure of the convictions also draws attention to the importance of reporting suspected cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation to the appropriate authorities to enable investigation and prosecution.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the Borno court’s ruling includes both a custodial sentence and an order for compensation, while the Niger State case resulted in a longer prison term following the defendant’s guilty plea.
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