Cross River police arrest security guard over alleged assault of five-year-old
Police in Cross River State say they have arrested a 22-year-old security guard over the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old nursery and primary school pupil in Calabar. The command says preliminary inquiries are under way and has urged the public to protect the child’s identity.
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old security guard over the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old pupil in Calabar. The command’s spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Tuesday in Calabar. He said the school proprietress reported the incident to police on September 28.
According to Eitokpah, the suspect was allegedly caught taking the pupil to an uncompleted building near the school, where the assault reportedly occurred. The suspect is in police custody while preliminary investigations continue, the spokesperson said. He added that the case would subsequently be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Eitokpah said the command was treating the matter with the seriousness it deserved because of the age of the alleged victim and the need to protect children from abuse and exploitation. He said appropriate investigative and child-protection procedures would be followed in accordance with the law. The police also said they would conduct a thorough investigation into the allegation.
The command urged parents, guardians, school authorities and members of the public to report suspected child abuse or exploitation promptly. It cautioned people against sharing the child’s identity, photographs or other identifying information, stressing the need to protect her privacy and welfare. The arrest is an allegation and the investigation remains ongoing, according to the police statement.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.