The police command in Akwa Ibom State says it rescued a three-year old child from a suspected kidnapper in the Abak Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said in a statement in Uyo on Thursday that the rescue followed a prompt response of personnel to a distress call.

Ms John said that officers from the command successfully foiled the kidnap attempt, rescued the child and apprehended the suspected kidnapper.

She said, “We received a distress call from a member of the public who reported that a child has been forcefully abducted by an unknown person and dragged into a nearby bush.Acting swiftly on the report, our personnel immediately mobilised to the scene in synergy with the vigilance group in the community. We combed the surrounding bushes and areas, we apprehended the suspect, and safely rescued the child.”

Ms John said that preliminary investigations were underway to establish the suspect’s motive, identify accomplices, and determine his possible involvement similar crimes in the past.

She urged members of the public with useful information on the matter to report such details to the nearest police station.

The police spokesman said that the command had zero tolerance for all manner of criminal activities, saying, “Akwa Ibom is an unsafe place for criminals. The command remains resolute in its constitutional mandate to protect lives and property across the state.”

Ms John called for stronger and more reliable cooperation from the public to ensure more effective campaign against crime in the state.

(NAN)