The  Nigeria Security  and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ilorin  on Monday  arrested a 17-year-old boy for alleged kidnap and attempted rape.

The spokesman of the NSCDC command, Alhaji Kadri Ibrahim, told newsmen  in Ilorin  that the suspect was arrested at about 9:30 am at Oke Apomu, Ilorin West Local Government by some officers of the corps.

The suspect, he said, claimed he abducted  the girl to have carnal knowledge of her and not  sell her for ritual.

Ibrahim, who  said  the suspect would be handed over to the police for prosecution, enjoined  residents  to take good care of their children and wards.

He, however,  appealed to residents  to avoid taking the laws  into their hands and continue to cooperate with security agents.

The suspect, who was paraded, said that he was an apprentice barber at Oke-Apomu area of Ilorin.

He said he was returning from a religious  programme when he saw three girls playing  on  the street.

The suspect said he abducted one of the girls  with a view to having  carnal knowledge of her before he was caught and beaten by some residents.

He said  the timely intervention of  the security men saved him from being beaten to death.

The mother of the abducted girl, Mrs Fatima Ibrahim, also said that she was  taking her bath when some  children  ran in to report the abduction.

She said neighbours joined  her in the search for her daughter, leading to the arrest of the suspect.(NAN)