The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has secured conviction and life imprisonment of two security guards for raping a six-year-old girl.

The guard, James Sule (30 years old) and Adamu Yau (25 years old) based in Abuja, repeatedly raped the minor for six years.

They were sentenced to life imprisonment, without the option of fine, by Justice S.M. Mayana of the FCT High Court 46, Apo, Abuja, following their arraignment by NAPTIP.

In a statement on Friday by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, the victim was 12 years old in 2022 when the case was reported, but 6 years old at the time of the offence.

The statement reads: “The victim recounted that in 2016 her grandmother asked Sule who was their security guard at that time, to repair a broken toilet in their residence at Penthouse Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.

“While her grandmother returned to the kitchen, Sule remained in the toilet. According to her, she was crying on the bed in the room over a cello tape she had spoilt when Sule called her into the toilet.

“He assured her he would help prevent her grandmother from punishing her. He then locked the door, forcibly removed her pants, and raped her while covering her mouth. Afterwards, he brought out a knife and threatened her not to tell anyone.

“It was narrated that in a bid to share the sexual pleasure with his friends, Sule, later recruited two other guards in the Estate, Yau who is the second convict, and one Muhammed, now at large.

“Together, they had sex with the victim whenever opportunities arose, threatening to kill and wipe out her entire family if she spoke to anyone about their act with her”.

According to the Agency, the victim’s parents noticed troubling changes in her behaviour.

“She became visibly agitated whenever Sule entered the house and refused to let him escort her to school or pick her up from the school bus.

“In a bid to get an explanation for the sudden, strange behaviour of the little girl, her parents took her to a prayer house where she confided in the Pastor that Sule, Yau, and Mohammed had been sexually abusing her, particularly whenever she returned from school before her parents arrived home.

“The parents immediately reported the matter to the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), which subsequently transferred the case to NAPTIP. The convicts were immediately arrested.”

The Statement continues: “Following further investigation, charges were filed in court on 9 February 2023. Sule and Yau were arraigned on 23 October 2023 on two counts under Section 1(1), punishable under Section 1(2), and Section 5 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. Both pleaded not guilty, and the trial commenced on 5 December 2023.

“The prosecution presented five witnesses, including the victim’s mother, who testified tearfully. Also, 7 Exhibits were tendered, including a medical report showing that the victim’s hymen was breached; all witnesses were cross-examined”.

Speaking on the conviction, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, commended the judiciary for the judgment, which she described as a clear warning to all offenders across the country.

She said: “I am excited that indeed, adequate justice, which is commensurate with the magnitude of the crime committed by the convicts, was duly served on them. This will go a long way to assuage the pain and traumatic experience of the victim and her family.

“It is important to point out that this is one of the fallouts of our improved strategies aimed at tightening the noose on violators across the country through stringent implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the VAPP Act to ensure the protection of all Nigerians. It will no longer be business as usual for them.

“I also want to use this medium to appeal again to all Nigerians, especially parents, school owners, and other stakeholders, to ensure that they carry out due diligence and strict profiling on any service providers before employing them.

“These service providers include drivers, security guards, home lesson teachers, babysitters, cooks, and others. This is to avoid any unpleasant situation of this nature.

“NAPTIP appreciates the support and collaboration of the Judiciary in the fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence as well as the partnership of the ARFH and other stakeholders”.

The mother of the Victim thanked the management of NAPTIP, for ensuring that justice is served on the violators of her daughter.

The Agency revealed that they have been taken to Kuje Correctional Centre as directed by the Court. (The Nation)

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