A 33-year-old suya seller, Abubakar Isiaka, has appealed to security agencies and relevant authorities to help rescue his three-year-old daughter, Sheripha, who was abducted from their residence in the Hausa Quarters of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
The child, aged three years and eight months, was reportedly taken on March 7, 2026, during a burial ceremony held within their compound. According to the father, the suspect, a woman dressed in a hijab and fluent in Hausa, had approached the residence under the pretense of searching for a known resident in the area.
Narrating the incident, Isiaka explained that his wife, unaware of the woman’s intentions, directed their eldest daughter to lead the stranger to the said house located nearby. Sheripha followed them.
He said the situation took a tragic turn when the suspect handed the older child ₦200 to buy biscuits. By the time she returned, the woman had vanished with Sheripha.
“In a matter of minutes, our lives changed. We have not slept since that day. We are begging the police, the government, and anyone who can help us bring our daughter back,” the distraught father said.
Following the incident, the family raised an alarm and reported the case to the community leader (Sariki), the police, and local vigilante groups. Residents and attendees of the burial ceremony immediately launched a search, but the child remains missing.
Confirming the development, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, stated that the command has commenced an investigation and is actively tracking the suspect and possible accomplices.
He urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and ensure children are closely monitored at all times to prevent similar occurrences.
The case has heightened concerns over child safety in the area, as residents continue to hope for the safe return of the missing toddler.