Two missing Gbawe-Mallam girls were not kidnapped - DSP Afia Tenge

Two girls who were reported missing on February 8, 2019, have been found, Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Afia Tenge has said.

Their disappearance which was largely attributed to a case of kidnap apparently was misconstrued.

According to DSP Afia Tenge, the girls who were found at a ghetto with their boyfriends were sexually abused and have been referred to the hospital for further treatment.

A joint police operation by the Gbawe Lafa Police and the Nyanyano District Police Command, on February 14, led to the arrest of four of the six suspects who were harbouring the two girls.

The four, three Ghanaians and a Nigerian - Kingsley Chidi, Samuel Otoo, Vincent Avi, Benjamin Mensah - been arrested and were arraigned today, Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

They have since been remanded by the Weija District Court until February 28.

The other two, only identified as Seth and senior remain at large.

Details

According to a statement from the police, a report was made to the Odorkor police on 8th February by the parents of the two missing girls who left for school and never returned.

Whilst the police was still investigating the whereabouts of these girls in the earnest, it was established that on the 7th February, 2020, at about 6:50am, both victims left their respective homes for school at Mallam.

Whilst school was in session, the victims left the school unceremoniously around 11:00am to meet one Seth and Senior, now at large, at McCarthy Hills. Both suspects had sexual intercourse with the victims and later left them to their fate.

Later that day, Senior brother to one of the victims spotted them in a desperate situation and questioned them. They were unable to come out with tangible reasons and for fear of being reprimanded, they absconded and sought refuge at Gomoa Nyanyanoo, near Kasoa in the Central Region.

On the 13th February, 2020, an aunty to one of the victims received a telephone call from Samuel Otoo, to the effect that the victims were lodging at his end and rerequested for some changing clothes and more money for their up-keep since the girls had intentions of spending about a month with them.

Luck eluded them when on the 14th of February, 2020, around 10:30pm, a joint operation between the Gbawe Lafa Police and Nyanyano District Police Command, led to the arrest of all four suspects at their separate abodes in Kasoa. Two are on the run and efforts are still underway to get them apprehended.

All six suspects sexually abused the girls whilst harbouring them. They are being examined medically to see what assistance they can be offered as soon as possible.