The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, over allegations that he assaulted a 12-year-old girl in Port Harcourt.
Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement on Monday that the incident occurred on September 6, 2025, after the suspect reportedly lured the child while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.
According to the police, George, a native of Akwa Ibom who resides in Port Harcourt, allegedly pulled the girl into a stationary tricycle, restrained her, and attacked her before leaving the scene.
The child was later taken to the police hospital in Port Harcourt for medical attention. George was arrested later that night, around 10 p.m., and exhibits including a tricycle, a bundle of rope, and food items were recovered.
The police said the suspect confessed during interrogation.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assured that anyone found guilty of such crimes would face the full weight of the law.
He also urged parents and guardians to monitor the movements of their children more closely.
The case has added to growing concerns over the rising number of reported assaults on children nationwide.
The National Human Rights Commission recorded more than 86,000 cases of child rights violations between January 2024 and January 2025, many of which involved abuse of minors.
Civil society groups have continued to call for stronger protections, stressing that children remain highly vulnerable but that increased awareness and reporting are helping to break the silence surrounding such incidents.