It was gathered that the suspect carried out the act in his apartment at 14 Waddell Street, Mbukpa community in Calabar South local Council of Cross River State.

A source, who lives in the neighbourhood, said the suspect was arrested at the weekend in his house by the Anti-Cult and Kidnapping Squad of the State Police Command following an alarm raised by the girl’s parents.

It was also alleged that Bassey has been sexually assaulting other minors in the neighborhood, but luck ran out on him when the mother of the survivor (name withheld), noticed bloodstain on her private part, and when asked what happened to her, she told her mother that she was assaulted by the suspect.

Secretary of Ikot Edet Etim village in Efut Abua West clan in the Mbukpa area, Mr Pendo Ned, who confirmed the incident said: “When we got this information, community head Muri Ebuka Ebuka, directed that the suspect be brought before him.

“The suspect had confessed to the heinous crime before the community. We seriously condemned such crimes against minors. We had invited the police to pick him up for further interrogation.”

Also, a Child Rights Activist and Chairperson of Cross River Child Protection Network, James Ibor, has charged the police to conclude their investigation so that the suspect would face the full weight of the law.

Ibor who is also the Secretary of Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring said, “We encourage the police to conclude the investigation so that the man can face the full weight of the law. We’ll not relent on this particular case.”

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Irene Ugbo, said she was yet to be briefed on the matter.

She, however, promised to revert to the reporter, but she was yet to do so at press time.