Police Rescue Woman from Mob in Port Harcourt After False Abduction Accusation

Police in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, intervened to rescue a woman from a violent mob after she was accused of stealing and abducting a 12-year-old girl. The incident occurred on Owo Street in Mile 2, Diobu, where the woman, identified as Maria Kobara, was allegedly assaulted by passers-by and residents.

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As I was passing, I saw a crowd on Owo Street, so I tried to find out what was happening. I discovered that a woman was taking a 12-year-old girl to church when another woman stopped her and asked who the child was to her.

An eyewitness reported that the woman was escorting the child to a church on Eagle Island when another woman stopped them. Although the child's mother had indeed authorized the woman to take her daughter to church, the mob began attacking her before confirmation could be received. Quick police intervention prevented the situation from escalating further.

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The mob ignored all explanations made by the woman that she knew the child’s mother and that the mother was aware of their movement.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the rescue, stating that preliminary investigations indicated a relative of the child's father had raised the alarm. Despite the woman's explanations that she knew the child's mother and had permission, the mob proceeded with the assault. The child's mother later corroborated the woman's account at the station, clarifying that she was not a child thief but was en route to clean a church branch.

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Rather, she was on her way to clean a branch of their church on Eagle Island in Port Harcourt when she was intercepted and falsely accused.

Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko urged residents to report suspicious incidents to the authorities instead of resorting to jungle justice. The command emphasized that mob actions are illegal and will not be tolerated, warning that perpetrators will face legal consequences.

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She urged residents to report suspected incidents to the police rather than resorting to extrajudicial actions.