POLICE ARREST SECURITY GUARD OVER ALLEGED ASSAULT OF FIVE-YEAR-OLD PUPIL IN CALABAR

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 of a nursery and primary school in Calabar.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Calabar.

According to Eitokpah, the school proprietress reported the incident to the police on September 28.

He said the suspect was allegedly caught taking the pupil to an uncompleted building close to the school, where the alleged assault reportedly took place.

The PPRO said the suspect was currently in police custody while preliminary investigations were ongoing.

He added that the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

Eitokpah said the command was treating the matter with utmost seriousness given the age of the alleged victim and the need to protect children from abuse and exploitation.

He assured that appropriate investigative and child-protection procedures would be followed in accordance with the law, adding that the command would conduct a thorough investigation into the case.

The police spokesperson urged parents, guardians, school authorities and members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse or exploitation to the police for appropriate intervention.

He also cautioned the public against publishing or sharing the child’s name, photographs or any other information that could reveal her identity, stressing the importance of protecting her privacy and welfare.