A local vigilante in Rumuagholu community in Obio-Akpor Local Council of Rivers State has arrested a middle-aged man, identified as Paul, for kidnapping.

The suspect was arrested for alleged kidnap of a 14-year-old girl and keeping her for over three weeks. The guardian of the girl, Queeneth Ukaegbu, said they have been searching for the girl for over three weeks and the suspect has been a customer of hers, who often patronises her business.

Ukaegbu said she alerted the local vigilante group as soon as the teenage girl was able to reach her on the phone, which led to the arrest of the suspect.

According to her, the victim confided in her that she was raped by two men,while with the suspect.She said: “It has been about three weeks since we have not seen her. My sister and I went to the church and as we returned my sister checked her phone and noticed she missed a call accompanied by a text message. When she checked, the message read, ‘auntie, do not bother looking for me, I am alright.’

“So when we called the number the location is a church and that is where we found her.” The suspect, however, said he took the girl to his house for safety after he picked her up around Obiri-Ikwerre bridge.

Meanwhile, the general commander of the local vigilante group, Henry Nyebuchi said the man has been handed over to the police for further investigation.

He said: “This is a clear case of adoption, conspiracy, rape because the girl admitted that some people raped her. So Mr. Paul will explain to us the people that raped the girl, that is if he was not aware.

“Incidents like this are not encouraging. If he had seen a distressed girl, according to what he is alleging, the right place to take the girl to is not his house.” (The Guardian)