A two-year-old boy abducted from Bunyia Iruan community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State has been rescued, while two suspected kidnappers were arrested by youths in Ogoja Local Government Area.
According to The Punch, the suspects, identified as 17-year-old Suahnen Lorlumun and 17-year-old Sekeghshie Silas, were apprehended in Ogberia Ochoro community in the Mbube area of Ogoja while allegedly attempting to move the child through the community.
The suspects were later taken to the Okubuchi Police Outpost by the Clan Head of Bunyia Iruan amid fears that angry youths might lynch them.
The Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to journalists in Calabar on Thursday.
Eitokpah said the police were aware of the incident and explained that the suspects were taken to the outpost for their safety.
“The Cross River State Police Command is aware of an incident involving two young men, namely Suahnen Lorlumun, 17, and Sekeghshie Silas, 17, who were brought to the Okubuchi Police Outpost by the Clan Head of Bunyia Irruan, for their safety following concerns that they could be lynched by youths in the area,” the statement read.
According to the police, the suspects were subsequently released into the custody of the clan head alongside three officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons from Calabar.
“The Command further confirms that the two young men were subsequently released into the custody of the Clan Head, in the company of three officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons from Calabar,” the statement said.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, said members of the community vigilante group intercepted the suspects after noticing that they were allegedly trying to take the boy through the area.
“When we noticed that they were trying to take the boy across our community, we had to stop them. We stopped the two of them and arrested them by our community vigilante group,” he said.
The eyewitness added that the suspects were taken to the village square, where they were tied to a concrete wall fence and beaten before the arrival of the police.
The child was reportedly kidnapped two days before his rescue from Bunyia Iruan community in Boki Local Government Area.
