The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a couple for allegedly locking their 15-year-old house help, identified simply as Amaechi, in a toilet at their residence in Abuloma, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state.

The teenager, who hails from Ebonyi State, was reportedly rescued by operatives of the Abuloma Police Division on Monday, September 14, after the landlord raised the alarm over her prolonged absence.

The couple, whose names were withheld, allegedly locked the girl in the toilet for weeks over an undisclosed offence.

A source told our correspondent that while in confinement, the teenager was allegedly fed once a day with leftover food, despite repeatedly pleading for her release.

Another account had it that the girl’s cries attracted the attention of neighbours, who raised the alarm, prompting the police to intervene.

Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the landlord’s observation led to the girl’s rescue.

Agabe said, “Yes, I can confirm the incident.

“It was the landlord that noticed that the girl had not been coming out of the house for some time. He suspected something and informed the police.

“So our men got there and rescued the girl from the house where she was locked up in the toilet. She was their house help. We have contacted the family of the girl to come to the station.

“The husband and the wife that she was living with as their house help have been arrested. They are with us and investigation is ongoing.”

The police spokesperson added that the teenager would not be returned to the house where she was allegedly confined.

“We asked the family of the girl to come to the station because the girl will not return to the house she was picked up from,” she said.

Asked whether the couple would be arraigned, Agabe said, “Well, for now, investigation is ongoing.”