The. Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has rescued a 3year old ‘female’ who was subjected to begging for gain by a deaf and dumb man in Port Harcourt, and has commenced family tracing for the little girl as she undergoes rehabilitation.

The toddler who couldn’t provide her name is believed to be an Akwaibomite from the pockets of Ibibio language she speaks. She was brought to the Akwa Ibom State Command headquarters of NSCDC by pastor John Onomhen of Trinity Grace Assembly.

Pastor Onomhen noticed the toddler in mid 2024 begging for alms and remitting same to the deaf and dumb man who acted as the girl’s father in Casablanca area of Portharcourt, Rivers State. The Pastor became concerned because despite the amount of alms the little girl receives from good spirited Nigerians usually out of pity, the then barely two year old girl looked unkempt and malnourished; thus prompting his interest. Asides this, the man and the girl sleeps by the road which endangers the little girl’s life.

Following from this, several failed attempts to take the little girl was made during which period it was discovered that the deaf and dumb man was not the child’s biological father, as he always put on a violent resistance.

The little girl as well as the deaf and dumb man with the help of operatives were eventually picked up and taken to the Pastor’s church where they were given better care for some months before they were brought to NSCDC Akwa Ibom State Command for family tracing and documentation.

The head of Gender Based Violence Unit of the Command, SC Uffeh Okama Mary immediately swung into action, and made several attempts to trace the family of the girl to Oron LGA and Ibaka area in Mbo LGA which were the possible locations preliminary investigations revealed; all to no avail.

The deaf and dumb man was also taken to a sign interpreter for illiterates to extract information from him, since he neither speaks nor writes, thus making it difficult to establish basic facts. This yielded little; as his name, where he comes from, the name of the girl child, where she comes from, and other basic information could still not be established because the man could not communicate in signs either.

Meanwhile, the little girl has been taken for medical examination and has been registered with the Ministry of Justice Akwa Ibom State while care, education, clothes, medical care is being extended to her pending when her mother or other family members can be successfully traced.

The State Commandant of NSCDC Akwa Ibom State Command, Comdt Bashar Kefas Hussaini uses this medium to inform Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians that a little girl of about 3 years old is in custody of NSCDC where she is currently receiving care and welcomes help with tracing and reuniting her with her family.
Little information is known about her because she is still a toddler and was rescued from a deaf and dumb man who used her for alms begging in Portharcourt, Rivers State

The State Commandant appreciates the support the Corps has enjoyed from the good people of Akwa Ibom State and solicits more of it; including with tracing the family of this little girl who may still be searching for her whereabout.