A Nigerian woman, Bolaji Bolarinwa, has been sentenced to 45 months in prison by a United States court for forced labor and related crimes after coercing two victims to perform domestic work and childcare in her home.

The judgment was delivered by Attorney Alina Habba and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated that Bolarinwa exploited her relationship with the victims to lure them to the United States with false promises. Upon their arrival, she confiscated their immigration documents and subjected them to threats, physical force, and mental abuse to coerce them into working long hours for minimal compensation.

"The prosecution should send a strong message that such forced labor will not be tolerated in US communities," Dhillon emphasized in the statement.

The Justice Department has reaffirmed its commitment to fully enforcing federal human trafficking statutes to protect the rights of survivors and hold human traffickers accountable for exploiting vulnerable victims.

This case highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking and labor exploitation, which remains a significant concern both in the United States and globally. Authorities continue to urge vigilance and reporting of suspected cases of forced labor and human trafficking.