Five-year-old Fatiya Handino was kidnapped during an armed hijacking, but thanks to Cape Town’s law enforcement officers’ quick response, was returned unharmed to her loved ones. (Photo: Provided)
Hours of fear, uncertainty and prayers ended in indescribable relief for a Cape family when their five-year-old daughter was returned safely after she was kidnapped during an armed hijacking.
Now the family is praising Cape Town’s law enforcement officers for the crucial role they played in safely returning Fatiya Handino to her loved ones.
On 21 May, around 09:00, Fatiya was found with her father at their home in Blue Downs on the Cape Flats and was held at gunpoint.
The suspect forced her father out of the vehicle and fled with Fatiya in the car.
Chimoney Abrahams, a law enforcement officer, and her colleagues were providing escort for the energy directorate during the incident and drove past Fatiya’s father, stopped and assisted him.
Smith says Fatiya recently visited his office and presented a certificate to each officer as a token of appreciation. (Photo: Provided)
According to JP Smith, mayoral committee member for community safety and security in Cape Town, the officers immediately went to investigate in the direction where the attackers fled and called for additional assistance.
“It is understood that the suspect left the child on the side of the road while he fled into a nearby bush in an attempt to escape. Abrahams saw the suspect trying to remove his clothes and apprehended the 32-year-old man,” says Smith.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team, along with the community, managed to track down little Fatiya and return her safely to her family.
(Photo: Provided)
Smith says Fatiya recently visited his office and presented a certificate to each officer as a token of appreciation.
“It was heartwarming to see Fatiya’s family express their gratitude to the officers. Their quick action to apprehend the suspect and protect this little girl is commendable and testament to our efforts to improve security,” says Smith.
(Photo: Provided)
(Photo: Provided)