A 40-year-old man was rescued from an angry community after he was found in the company of a missing five-year-old girl in Eastern Cape. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and ensuring the safety of our children at all times.
The chain of events began when the mother of the missing child received a distressing call from her own mother, informing her that her daughter was nowhere to be found.
Alarmed and frantic, the mother rushed home, only to be met with the shocking news that her child had been seen leaving with an unknown man. In a state of panic, she immediately contacted the authorities and a case of kidnapping was opened.
It was on Tuesday morning that the suspect was spotted by the community, sitting inside a minibus taxi with the missing child. The enraged mob wasted no time in taking matters into their own hands, pulling the man out of the vehicle and subjecting him to a brutal assault with stones and sticks.
Fortunately, law enforcement officials were patrolling in the area and were able to intervene, rescuing the suspect from further harm.
As news of the incident spread, the angry mob grew in numbers, demanding the release of the suspect. The situation escalated to such an extent that the suspect had to be transported to the hospital for urgent medical treatment. He is currently under police guard and will face charges of kidnapping upon his discharge.
It is worth noting that the suspect is a complete stranger to both the child and her family, making the incident all the more alarming.
The child has since undergone a medical examination and has been reunited with her family. In addition to the charge of kidnapping, a case of attempted murder has been opened in relation to the severe assault inflicted on the suspect by the community.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said: “The child was also taken for medical examination and was reunited with her family. A case of attempted murder is also opened in relation to the suspect’s assault.
“However, it is essential to remember that taking the law into your own hands, as in this incident, is not the appropriate response.”