The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued a three-year-old pupil who was abducted in Abak Local Government Area of the state and has arrested a suspect in connection with the incident.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo on Thursday. She explained that a distress call was received from one Uwem, a 32-year-old male, reporting that a female pupil had been forcefully abducted by an unknown person and dragged into a nearby bush.
According to the statement, operatives of the Command were immediately mobilized to the scene. With the support of vigilant youths in the community, security personnel combed the forest and adjoining bushes, leading to the successful rescue of the victim and the arrest of the suspect.
“The operation resulted in the arrest of one Saturday Ofonmbuk, a 29-year-old male from Afaha Ikot Inyang Village, Ukanafun Local Government Area, and the successful rescue of a female child aged about three years (name withheld),” the statement said.
It added that the rescued child was found safe and unharmed and was immediately reunited with her family, bringing relief to the community and highlighting the effectiveness of prompt police intervention.
DSP John stated that preliminary investigations are ongoing to establish the suspect’s motive, identify possible accomplices, and determine whether he is linked to similar incidents within or outside the state. She also urged members of the public with useful information to assist the Command.
She further warned child abductors and other criminal elements that Akwa Ibom State is not a safe haven for crime, stressing that anyone found involved in child abduction or related offences will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
