The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old security guard, Bright Bassey Elijah, attached to a nursery and primary school in Calabar, following an allegation of sexu@l ass@ult involving a five-year-old pupil of the school.
The incident was reported to the Police on September 28 by the proprietress of the school in Calabar. According to the report, the suspect was allegedly caught taking the five-year-old pupil to an unfinished building within the vicinity of the school, where he was allegedly caught f!ngering the child and l!cking her g€nitals.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, the command’s spokesperson, Eitokpa Akata, said the suspect is currently in Police custody.
He said preliminary investigation is ongoing, after which the suspect will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
When interrogated, the suspect confessed to ‘l!cking the victim’s g£nitals.’
Akata said the Command is treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves, particularly given the age of the victim. He mentioned that appropriate investigative and child-protection procedures will be followed in accordance with the law.
The police imagemaker urged parents, guardians, school authorities and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspected abuse or exploitation of children to the Police.