Two security guards, James Sule, 30, and Adamu Yau, 25, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the serial rape of a minor who was six years old when the abuse began. Justice S.M. Mayana of the FCT High Court 46, Apo, Abuja handed down the sentence on Friday with no option of fine, following prosecution by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP. NAPTIP Press Officer Vincent Adekoye stated that the victim was repeatedly raped from 2016 to 2022 at Penthouse Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. The abuse started when Sule, then the family’s security guard, was repairing a toilet. He lured the crying six-year-old inside, locked the door, covered her mouth, and raped her at knifepoint, threatening to kill her if she spoke out. Sule later recruited fellow guards Adamu Yau and one Muhammed, now at large, to join in the abuse whenever opportunities arose. The crime came to light after the victim’s parents noticed she became agitated whenever Sule was present and refused to let him escort her to school. She later confided in a pastor that the three men had been sexually abusing her for years. The case was reported to the Association for Reproductive and Family Health and transferred to NAPTIP, leading to the arrest of Sule and Yau. Charges were filed in February 2023 under the VAPP Act, 2015. Medical evidence showed the victim’s hymen was breached. During trial, the prosecution called five witnesses, including the victim’s mother, and tendered seven exhibits. NAPTIP Director General Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello hailed the judgment as “a clear warning to all offenders,” saying it delivers “adequate justice” for the victim and her family. She added that the agency is tightening enforcement of the VAPP Act to ensure protection for all Nigerian
