Five-year-old boy kidnapped in Anambra church

A five-year-old boy has been reported stolen during a church service at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Ekwulobia, Anambra State.

The Anambra State Police Command announced this on Monday in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed.

Mohammed said the incident occurred on Sunday while children were playing on the church compound during service.

He said the boy was allegedly stolen by a yet-to-be-identified man who deceived the victim's elder sibling to go and buy water for him opposite the church while he perpetrated the act.

Mohammed added, "One Mr and Mrs Ayinkor Umego both of Okpo village Ekwulobia reported at Aguata police station at about 9 am that his wife prepared their three children for church service at St.Joseph Catholic Cathedral Church Ekwulobia.

"However while the children were playing on the field within the church premises, a man whose identity is yet unknown called the eldest child and sent him to go and buy three sachet water opposite the church, and before he comes back from the errand, the man had disappeared with his younger brother one Chimaobim Kosi Ayinkor aged five years to unknown destination and all efforts made to locate him by the parents proved abortive.

"Following the report, police circulated a wireless massage to various divisions/formations through the control room while effort is being intensified to find the missing child who is dark in complexion about 3 feet tall and without a tribal mark.

The PPRO urged parents and the public to caution their children about strangers.

He added, "The command equally enjoins the public with useful information about the child's whereabouts to report at the nearest police station or through a designated police emergency number."