Security guard arrested over alleged sexual assault on toddler in Calabar school
The Cross River State Police Command has detained a 22-year-old security guard following allegations of sexual assault involving a five-year-old student at a nursery and primary school in Calabar.
The suspect, Bright Bassey Elijah, was assigned to the school as a security personnel. According to Police Public Relations Officer ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the incident was reported to authorities on September 28 by the school’s proprietress.
Akata reported that Elijah was allegedly discovered leading the child to an uncompleted building in the vicinity of the school, where the assault is said to have taken place. He confirmed that the suspect remains in police custody while preliminary investigations are conducted.
The case will subsequently be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further inquiry. The police noted the seriousness of the allegations, particularly given the age of the alleged victim, and assured that appropriate investigative and child protection protocols would be followed.
In light of the incident, law enforcement officials urged parents, guardians, and school administrators to remain vigilant and to report suspected instances of child abuse or exploitation promptly. The command also appealed to the public to refrain from sharing the child’s identity or other identifying details, emphasizing the need to protect her privacy and welfare.
