Girl 12 abducted, defiled for 10 days
By a Correspondent
POLICE in Sinda District of Eastern Province have launched a manhunt for a man who allegedly abducted a 12-year-old girl for 10 consecutive days and repeatedly defiled her.
Eastern Province Commissioner of Police Robertson Mweemba said the girl, who was abducted on January 9, was defiled multiple times for at least 10 consecutive days.
“The juvenile was concurrently molested from January 9th to 19th 2026 in Sinda in Zibweleka village of Kawaza chiefdom by a person she only knows as Patrick,” he said.
He said the girl only broke free from captivity after the door to the house in which she being held was left open as Patrick forgot to lock it.
“This led to the girl breaking free and running away. And this same guy, who is only known as Patrick, is on the run. And as police, we are looking for him and we shall find him dead or alive,” he said.
Mweemba said he had instructed police officers in the province to take a lead in fighting all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual offences.
Brief facts on the case are that, on January 07, the 12-year-old survivor left home without informing anyone and only returned the following day around 06:00 hours.
“The mother of the survivor let her child sleep until the next day, 09th January 2026, at around 18:00 hours, when the mother confronted her to find out where she had slept the previous day, she did not respond and decided to run away and only went back home on 19th January 2026,” he said.
Mweemba said the mother of the child decided to take the child to the police for counselling, where she disclosed that she was abducted by Patrick who had carnal knowledge of her repeatedly until January 19.
“This prompted the police to act swiftly and issue a police medical report form to the survivor, who went to seek medical attention. The findings were consistent with the claims that she was sexually molested,” he said.
Mweemba said under the law, a crime was committed and a docket of defilement had been opened while police continued with the manhunt.
