The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has revealed that it secured the conviction and life imprisonment of two security personnel, James Sule, 30, and Adamu Yau, 25, for the serial rape of a six-year-old child.
A press release by the NAPTIP Press and Public Relations officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye, in Abuja on Friday, stated that the convicts operated within Abuja.
Adekoye noted that the convicts were handed life sentences, without any option of fine, by Justice S.M. Mayana of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 46, Apo, Abuja, after their prosecution by NAPTIP.
He mentioned that the perpetrators were charged in accordance with the regulations of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act, 2025.
The spokesperson remarked that the outcome was celebrated by a wide spectrum of stakeholders and civil society organization members throughout the nation.
According to Adekoye, the breakthrough aligns with the refreshed dedication and resolve of the current NAPTIP leadership to escalate the execution of the VAPP Law and secure fitting justice for victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence nationwide.
Adekoye asserted that the survivor was repeatedly violated from the age of six in 2016 until 2022, when she reached 12 years and the crime was uncovered.
The victim recollected that in 2016, her grandmother hired James Sule, who served as their domestic security guard, to fix a damaged toilet at their home in Penthouse Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.
The survivor recalled that while her grandmother went back to the kitchen, Sule stayed in the restroom, adding that she was weeping on the bed over a damaged adhesive tape when Sule summoned her inside.
The victim explained that Sule promised to shield her from her grandmother’s anger, then secured the door, forcefully stripped her, and assaulted her while shutting her mouth, later producing a blade to threaten her into silence.
She stated that this initiated a long cycle of recurring sexual violation, terror, physical pain, and trauma which persisted for six calendar years.
Investigation and Arrests
Meanwhile, the NAPTIP Press Official remarked that in a bid by the predator to share the sexual violation with his peers, Sule later invited two alternative guards within the Estate, Adamu Yau, the second convict, and one Muhammed, who remains at large.
The NAPTIP Press Official stated that they collectively assaulted the child whenever the chance presented itself, vowing to murder and eliminate her entire household if she revealed their actions to anyone.
He noted that the survivor endured this harrowing torment secretly for nearly six years before her parents detected alarming adjustments in her conduct, as she grew openly panicked whenever Sule entered the premises and declined his company to school.
“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 and the convicts were immediately arrested.
“Following further investigation, charges were filed in court on February 9, 2023.
Sule and Yau were arraigned on October 23 of the same year on two
-count charge under Section 1(1), punishable under Section 1(2), and Section 5 of the VAPP Act 2015,” Adekoye said.
He noted that the culprits maintained their innocence when the court trial commenced on December 5, 2023.
The prosecution called five distinct witnesses, including the child’s mother, who offered emotional testimony.
The NAPTIP representative mentioned that seven pieces of evidence were tendered to back the prosecution, including a medical examination confirming that the victim’s maidenhead was ruptured.
He stated that all the witnesses underwent cross-examination.
Judicial Outcome and Public Warning
Reacting to the verdict, the Director General of NAPTIP, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, praised the bench for the historic ruling, which she termed a stern warning to all predators across the federation.
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 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.
“The 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 SGBV, as well as the partnership from ARFH and other stakeholders,” Adamu-Bello stated.
On her side, the mother of the survivor (identity concealed), in her reaction, appreciated the NAPTIP leadership, particularly the prosecution team, for guaranteeing that justice caught up with her child’s abusers.
Adekoye concluded that the criminals have since been moved to the Kuje Correctional Centre under judicial orders, where they are expected to spend their remaining days.
