Djibouti, 10 October 2025 — Djibouti police on Tuesday thwarted an attempt to abduct a 15-year-old girl and arrested two suspects involved in the incident, the National Police said in a statement released on Thursday.
According to the statement the incident occurred in Djibouti City when police on patrol became suspicious of an abandoned motorcycle (bajaj) in Barwaqo area. Upon inspection, they saw two men attempting to kidnap the girl.
The officers reacted swiftly rescuing the girl, who was already in shock but still conscious. She was immediately rushed to the University Hospital Center (CHU) for treatment.
The two suspects who attempted to flee the scene were arrested and taken to custody. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of kidnap charges.
The residents of Barwaqo who spoke to the media commended the police for their swift intervention.
"If they hadn’t been there at that exact moment, the worst could have happened," said Saad Hassan, a local resident.
The National Police highlighted that the operation underscored the critical role officers play in crime prevention and protection of citizens.