Tanzania police have arrested a 19-year-old man in Dar es Salaam on suspicion of abducting a 14-year-old schoolgirl, authorities said on Saturday.
Police in Dar es Salaam said the suspect, identified as Baraka Hassani Juma, a resident of Kagongwa in Kahama district, Shinyanga region, is accused of unlawfully taking the Form Two student from her place of residence in Ilala district on January 5, 2026.
According to a police statement, officers arrested the suspect on January 17 at a guest house in Ukonga, Dar es Salaam, where he was found with the minor while allegedly preparing to travel with her to Kahama district.
“Following intensive investigations, the suspect was arrested while in the company of the student as they were preparing to leave the city,” the police said, adding that the girl’s identity has been withheld to protect her privacy.
Police said further legal steps are being taken against the suspect in coordination with other relevant authorities, in line with Tanzanian law.
The Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone warned that it would not hesitate to take legal action against anyone found committing similar offences, and urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement by reporting cases involving the abuse or endangerment of minors.
Tanzania has laws that criminalise the abduction and exploitation of children, with police regularly calling on communities to remain vigilant and to protect the rights and safety of minors.