Youths apprehend two suspects, rescue kidnapped toddler in Cross River

A swift response by youths in the Ogberia Ochoro community of Cross River State led to the apprehension of two suspected kidnappers and the rescue of a two-year-old boy. The child had been kidnapped from the Bunyia Iruan community in the Boki Local Government Area.

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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 suspects, identified as 17-year-old Suahnen Lorlumun and 17-year-old Sekeghshie Silas, were intercepted by the community vigilante group as they allegedly attempted to move the child through the area. An eyewitness, speaking anonymously, described how the community members stopped the suspects and tied them to a fence before the police arrived.

Concerns about the suspects facing mob justice were high, prompting the Clan Head of Bunyia Irruan to escort them to the Okubuchi Police Outpost for their safety. The state police command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident, stating that the command was aware and that the suspects were taken to the outpost for protection.

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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.

Following their transfer to the police, the two young men were subsequently released into the custody of the Clan Head. They were accompanied by three officials from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) from Calabar. The police are investigating the kidnapping incident, which occurred two days prior to the rescue.

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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.