Police in Monrovia are investigating a Nigerian, named not disclosed, for allegedly kidnapping a three-year-old girl who was discovered suffocating in a plastic barrel owned by the suspect in Slipway community opposite Water Street, Monrovia. The incident occurred on Sunday, 16 February.Witnesses told this paper that the child, whose name was not disclosed, went missing while she and her colleagues were playing in the community.
They disclosed that the minor was discovered after one of her colleagues alerted the child’s mother that their friend had been placed an empty barrel allegedly by a Nigerian National, also a resident of the same community.
Witness Noah Richardson explains further that thereafter the child’s parents, including her dad, who is a security officer, arrive on the scene, accompanied by other security officers.
Noah continues that the accused was requested to open the barrel but he refused on grounds that his water was stored in it.
He says based on the suspect’s refusal to act as requested, the security forcibly opened it only to discover the minor squatting in the barrel, sweating profusely.There, the accused was immediately arrested and is now undergoing investigation at the National Police Headquarters on Capitol Hill.
Police sources informed this paper the accused confessed during preliminary investigation that he committed the act because children usually climb play on his steps, despite warning them to stop.However, some community residents, who also spoke to this paper say the act is an attempted kidnap.
They claim prior to the child’s disappearance, they saw the accused bringing several barrels into the community, making to think it was for business purpose.
They call on the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to ensure the accused face full weight of the law.
Efforts to get comments from the child’s parents later proved fruitless as they were whisked up by the police along with the accused to the LNP headquarters.
Human trafficking, kidnapping, and ritualistic activities are common in Liberia, as many innocent people, including women and children have been murdered and body parts extracted by unknown individuals.
When the LNP public affairs department was contacted via mobile phone, there was no response up to press time.By Emmanuel Mondaye-Editing by Jonathan Browne
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