The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly kept inside a toilet for weeks by a couple who employed her as a house help in Abuloma, Port Harcourt.
The teenager, identified simply as Amaechi and said to be from Ebonyi State, was freed on Monday after the landlord became suspicious that she had not been seen outside the apartment for a prolonged period and alerted the police.
The police subsequently went to the residence, where officers attached to the Abuloma Police Division reportedly found the girl locked inside the toilet and brought her out of the premises.
Amaechi was allegedly subjected to the confinement over an undisclosed offence, with a source claiming that she was fed only once daily with leftover food despite repeatedly pleading with her alleged captors to release her.
The incident came to light after the landlord reportedly noticed the teenager's prolonged absence and raised the alarm, prompting the intervention of the police.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the landlord's observation led to the girl's rescue.
“It was the landlord that noticed that the girl had not been coming out of the house for some time. He suspected something and informed the police,” Agabe said.
She added that the couple had been arrested and were assisting the police with the investigation, while the girl's family had been contacted to come to the station.
“The husband and the wife that she was living with as their house help have been arrested. They are with us and investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson stated.
Agabe further said the teenager would not be returned to the house where she was allegedly confined, adding that the police had yet to determine whether the suspects would be arraigned as investigation continued.
