(The Cross River State Police Command. Photo by Punch News)
The Cross River State Police Command has pushed back against claims circulating online suggesting that an unidentified group had set up camp along Mary Slessor Avenue in Calabar.
After conducting an on-ground investigation, the command clarified that the individuals spotted were mostly street children and vulnerable youths, not any organised or suspicious group.
According to a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer ASP Eitokpah Akata, a patrol team was promptly dispatched to the area opposite the Calabar Zoo following the online reports.
Findings from the visit revealed that the children are predominantly indigenes of Cross River State, with a small number from neighbouring states, who had left their homes due to difficult circumstances such as neglect, lack of parental care, and other social challenges.
Further inquiries established that the children are already known to humanitarian organisations and concerned individuals who regularly provide them with food, clothing, and other forms of assistance.
Representatives of Street Aid Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation focused on vulnerable children, were present during the police visit and confirmed that efforts to sensitise the children and reunite them with their families are already underway.
The police command commended members of the public for their alertness, noting that their observations enabled a timely response.
While no security threat was identified, the command assured residents that it would continue to monitor the area and work alongside relevant stakeholders, humanitarian bodies, and state government agencies to safeguard public safety and address the welfare needs of the affected children.
