Ndifreke Godwin, 37, was arrested in Calabar after an eight-year-old girl was allegedly lured to his residence with a promise of money

Cross River State Police Command arrested a 37-year-old security guard, Ndifreke Godwin, in Calabar on Friday, August 29, 2026, over the alleged sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl along Tinapa Road.

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The arrest followed a complaint by the girl’s mother, who reported the incident to the police on August 29, according to the command’s spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that Godwin allegedly lured the child to his residence with a promise of giving her money before the alleged assault occurred.

“The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old male security guard, identified as Ndifreke Godwin, in connection with the alleged sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl along Tinapa Road, Calabar,” Eitokpah said.

Following the report, police operatives promptly arrested the suspect and transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for what the command described as a discreet and comprehensive investigation.

The child has also been issued a medical form for the necessary examination and treatment as investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegation.

The Cross River police arrest guard case remains under investigation, and the allegation against Godwin has not been determined by a court.

The police said the suspect would be accorded due process and that any further legal action would depend on the findings of the investigation.

“The Command assures the public that the suspect will be accorded due process and that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation,” Eitokpah said.

The incident has also renewed the importance of vigilance around children, particularly where adults use offers of money or other inducements to gain access to them.

The command urged parents and guardians to remain alert and report suspicious behaviour involving minors to security agencies promptly.

For the family involved, the immediate priority remains the child’s welfare and access to appropriate medical and emotional support while investigators work to determine what happened.