The Cross River State Police Command on
Wednesday reunited an 11-year-old girl, Felicia Destiny, who was
abducted five years ago, with her parents.
Destiny was abducted in January 2011 at
Okpekpe in the Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State by a
herbalist, Emmanuel Akpan-Okon.
As had reported on
November 26, 2015, that Akpan-Okon also abducted one Esther Wisdom (11)
from Onitsha in Anambra State and turned the kids into sex slaves.
The kids were rescued on November 16, 2015, in Akamkpa, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
While handing over one of the rescued
victims (Destiny) to her mother, Mrs. Felicia Pius, at the command
headquarters in Calabar, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
John Eluu, said both victims were rescued in the house of Akpan-Okon.
He said, “On November 16, 2015, a team
of detectives attached to the Akamkpa Police Division, acting on a
tip-off, arrested a herbalist, one Emmanuel Akpan-Okon, who specialised
in removing bullets from firearms victims.
“Investigation revealed that the
herbalist is also known for preparing charms for armed robbers and other
miscreants in the area.
“His house and premises were searched
and two juveniles, Felicia Destiny (11) and Esther Augustine (11), both
females, were rescued. Both victims were abducted five years ago from
their homes and parents.”
He said the suspect had confessed to the
crime, adding that he had fed the police with details on how the
parents of the girls could be contacted.
“Investigation is still ongoing. The
suspect will be arraigned as soon as investigation is completed. We will
ensure that the suspect faces the wrath of the law,” Eluu said.
The PPRO said that the police would also ensure that Augustine was re-united with her family.
He appealed to members of the public with relevant information on the whereabouts of the parents of Esther to provide it.
He also advised parents to be cautious
about the movement of their children, saying juveniles could easily be
lured by hoodlums if not properly monitored.
Mother of Destiny, Felicia, who received
her daughter with tears of joy, commended the police for rescuing her
daughter from the hands of her captor five years after.
“I never believed I will see my daughter
again. I almost died when she was kidnapped in 2011. I am very happy to
see her again. I thank the Cross River Police Command for rescuing my
daughter from the hands of her captor,” she said.
source: Punchng