Security ‌‌‌guard arrested over alleged sexual assault of 5-year-old pupil

 
By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
 
A 22-year-old security guard has been arrested over alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old pupil of a nursery and primary school in Calabar, Cross River State.
 
The suspect was caught taking the pupil to an uncompleted building near the school, where the alleged assault reportedly occurred, Cross River Police Command spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday in Calabar.

He said the the school proprietress reported the incident to the command on Sept. 28.
 
Eitokpah said the suspect is currently in police custody while preliminary investigations are ongoing.
 
He added that the suspect would subsequently be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
 
The PPRO said the command was treating the matter with the seriousness it deserved, considering the age of the alleged victim and the need to protect children from abuse and exploitation.
 
The Cross River Police Commissioner assured that appropriate investigative and child-protection procedures would be followed in accordance with the law, adding that the command would ensure a thorough investigation into the matter.
 
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 cautioned 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.

(NAN)