The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Bayelsa State Command, has recorded another major victory in the fight against human trafficking with the conviction of a 29-year-old woman, Ms. Mariam Omokiri, from Delta State.
Delivering judgment at the Bayelsa State High Court 3, Justice Doris O. Adokeme found the defendant guilty on two out of four counts brought before the court. Omokiri, who was part of a trafficking syndicate, was accused of recruiting and trafficking four young girls from Bayelsa State to Mali and Senegal for prostitution.
Justice Adokeme held that the prosecution successfully proved two counts beyond reasonable doubt and accordingly sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment, with an option of a one million naira fine.
Speaking after the judgment, the Acting Commander of NAPTIP Bayelsa State Command, represented by the agency’s Legal Officer, Barrister Charles Imomotimi, commended the court for delivering justice and reaffirmed the agency’s determination to rid the state of human trafficking. He emphasized that the conviction sends a strong warning to perpetrators and syndicates operating within and outside the state.
“This judgment reinforces the fact that Bayelsa is not a safe haven for human traffickers. We encourage parents, guardians, and the general public to report all forms of human trafficking and exploitation to NAPTIP for prompt action,” Imomotimi said.
Also speaking, a representative of the victims’ families and former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Works, Chief Charles Ambawa, expressed appreciation to NAPTIP for their relentless efforts. He assured that the state government would continue to partner with the agency to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable citizens.
The judgment marks another milestone in NAPTIP’s ongoing commitment to securing justice for victims and dismantling trafficking networks across Nigeria.
