A high court in Benin City, Edo State, has handed down a 12-year prison sentence and a N24 million fine to Felicia Osaigbovo, popularly known as Mama Masha, for her involvement in human trafficking. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) released a statement on October 3rd, providing details of the case.
According to NAPTIP, the 62-year-old Mama Masha was a member of a human trafficking syndicate responsible for recruiting and trafficking 12 Nigerian girls to Belgium for sexual exploitation. The statement revealed that 12 collaborators, including three of the convict’s children, had already been convicted in Belgium in connection with the case.
During the trial, the prosecution presented three witnesses, including a Belgian Chief Inspector of Police, and submitted 13 exhibits as evidence. Following a comprehensive trial, the court found Mama Masha guilty on all 24 counts, leading to a 12-year prison sentence and a N24 million fine.
The case underscores the continued efforts to combat human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights that affects vulnerable individuals globally. The convictions in both Nigeria and Belgium demonstrate a coordinated international response to human trafficking networks.
