POLICE in Katavi Region have apprehended four residents of Mpanda Municipality for allegedly kidnapping a nine-year old school girl, demanding parents to pay them over 50m/- in cash as a ransom.
Acting Katavi Regional Police Commander (RPC), Kaster Ngonyani, told reporters during a press briefing held here yesterday that the minor is in Standard Four at Mizengo Pinda Primary School in Mpanda Municipality.
He named the suspects as Joseph John (24) and Yusuph Sadick (25) both are residing at Milupwa Street. Others are Abraham Kassim (28) from Misunkumilo Street and Samwel Nzobe (41) from Katosi Street.
The acting RPC narrated that the incident occurred on June 13 this year at around 2:00 pm, when the minor was on her way back home after attending cleaning activities at school.
“When the girl approached Roman Catholic Church buildings suddenly kidnapers ambushed her. They locked her in a room of one of the suspects for a day, demanding 50m/- from her parents, short of that they threatened to kill the girl,” said the RPC.
He went went ahead to explain that Police mounted a 24-hour manhunt for the suspects and subsequently all four people were arrested on June 14 this year.
“Police officers found the girl locked in a room belonging to one of the suspects identified as Joseph John, ” explained the acting RPC.
He further explained that the four suspects will be arraigned into court once preliminary investigations into the charges are completed.
