The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched an investigation into the alleged disappearance of children after their mother reportedly left them in the care of a relatively new co-tenant, who later absconded with them.
The incident reportedly occurred in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state and came to public attention following the circulation of a video on social media.
Confirming the development in a statement issued on Thursday in Uyo, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said detectives had commenced efforts to establish what happened, locate the children and apprehend anyone found responsible.
According to the statement, the woman had entrusted her children to the new co-tenant before leaving, but the individual allegedly disappeared with them before her return.
“The incident, which reportedly occurred in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, is currently receiving the attention of the Police, and investigation has commenced with a view to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the matter, locating the children and apprehending any person found culpable,” the statement said.
Police Warn Landlords, Property Agents
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, urged landlords, property owners and agents across the state to exercise greater caution and conduct proper checks on prospective tenants before granting them accommodation.
Azare warned that individuals with criminal intentions could secure accommodation, gain the confidence of unsuspecting neighbours and co-tenants and exploit such relationships to commit crimes, including child abduction and trafficking.
He advised landlords and property agents to obtain and verify essential information from prospective tenants, including valid means of identification, functional telephone numbers, previous residential addresses, next-of-kin details and credible guarantors or referees.
“I want to therefore advise 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,” he said.
The commissioner also urged landlords and co-tenants to maintain proper records of occupants and promptly report suspicious behaviour or activities capable of threatening the safety of residents.
He warned that landlords, property agents or other individuals who knowingly harbour criminals, conceal the identity or whereabouts of suspects, provide false information to investigators or assist offenders in evading arrest could be investigated and prosecuted.
Police Caution Against Premature Social Media Reports
Azare also cautioned content creators, bloggers and social media users against publishing sensitive details concerning child abduction and trafficking cases without first liaising with the police.
While acknowledging the role of social media in creating awareness, the commissioner said premature disclosure of information about victims, suspects or ongoing police operations could compromise rescue efforts.
He noted that such disclosures could alert suspects, enable them to relocate victims, destroy evidence or flee before they are apprehended.
“Henceforth, anyone whose deliberate actions obstruct an investigation, conceal an offender, compromise the rescue of a victim or materially assist a suspect to evade justice under the guise of content creation will be investigated and, where evidence warrants, prosecuted,” the statement read.
Parents Urged to Exercise Caution
The commissioner further advised parents and guardians to exercise extreme caution when leaving their children in the care of newly acquainted neighbours, domestic workers or other persons whose identities and backgrounds had not been sufficiently verified.
He assured residents that the command would deploy all lawful resources to combat child abduction and trafficking, rescue victims and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
The police also appealed to members of the public with useful information about the whereabouts of the missing children to report to the nearest police station or the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.
