Police arrest guard for assaulting five-year-old in Cross River

The Cross River State Police have arrested a 22-year-old security guard. He is accused of sexually assaulting a five-year-old pupil at a nursery and primary school in Calabar.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, shared this news in a statement on Tuesday in Calabar. He said the "school proprietress reported the incident to the command on Sept. 28."

Eitokpah explained that the "suspect was caught taking the pupil to an uncompleted building near the school, where the alleged assault reportedly occurred."

He mentioned that the suspect is "currently in police custody while preliminary investigations are ongoing."

The suspect will be moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

Eitokpah said the command is treating this matter with the "seriousness it deserved, considering 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." The command will make sure to thoroughly investigate the case.

Eitokpah 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 advised "members of the public against sharing the identity, photographs, or other identifying information of the child, stressing the need to protect her privacy and welfare."