Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has begun an investigation into a child abduction case reportedly involving children in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state, with a view to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the matter, locating the children and apprehending anyone found culpable.
A video trending online showed a woman who was reportedly said to have entrusted her children to a relatively new co-tenant, who allegedly absconded with them before her return.
Reacting, the Akwa Ibom Police Command, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in Uyo on Friday, also urged landlords to conduct due diligence on prospective tenants and cautioned content creators against compromising police investigations.
According to the statement: “The directive follows concerns that persons with criminal intentions may secure accommodation, gain the confidence of unsuspecting co-tenants and subsequently exploit such relationships to perpetrate crimes, particularly the abduction and trafficking of children.
The CP has therefore advised landlords and property agents to ensure that prospective tenants provide verifiable information before taking possession of any property. Such information should, as much as possible, include valid means of identification, functional telephone numbers, previous residential addresses, next-of-kin details and credible guarantors or referees.
“Landlords are further advised to maintain proper records of their tenants and promptly report suspicious conduct, unexplained movements or activities capable of threatening the safety and security of other occupants and members of the public.
“The Command warns that any landlord, property agent or other person who knowingly harbours criminals, conceals the identity or whereabouts of a suspect, deliberately provides false information to investigators or otherwise assists an offender to evade arrest will be investigated and, where sufficient evidence establishes criminal responsibility, prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The Commissioner of Police has equally warned content creators, bloggers and social media users against rushing sensitive cases of child abduction, trafficking and other serious crimes to social media without first liaising with the Police.
The Command therefore urges content creators and members of the public who come across victims or obtain credible information concerning child abduction, trafficking or similar offences to immediately notify the Police, so that appropriate investigative and rescue measures can be initiated before sensitive details are circulated publicly.
“Parents and guardians are also strongly advised to exercise extreme caution when entrusting their children to newly acquainted neighbours, domestic workers, casual acquaintances or persons whose identities and backgrounds are not sufficiently known.”
