Yesterday Police were searching for 20-year-old Hivakakala Langoia in ‘Eua after she contacted her family through Facebook claiming she was being held against her will by a man in the island.
Police have located Langoia this morning at 12am and found out “she never went to ‘Eua and claims that were made on kidnapping and associated allegations are false”, Police Acting Superintendent Tevita Vailea said.
Langoia who was found “safe and well” “was picked up last evening at around 12:00 midnight in the company of a male boarding the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa destined for Vava’u, after police received calls from the public,” Acting Supt Vailea said.
Langoia, who goes by the name Sālote Hivakakala Langoia on Facebook, was reported missing since August 25.
As Kaniva News reported, a post on Langoia’s Facebook account on Monday which appeared to have been posted by her alleged captor alerted her family to go and search for Hivakakala in the sea in ‘Eua.
The poster told her family to stop contacting her on her Facebook account as they will not see her again.
The poster alleged Hivakakala’s family did not like him because of his marital status.
“‘Eua Police cancelled the search last night when she was located after an extensive searched was launched’, Acting Supt Vailea said.
“Police are concerned that the family have been put through this unnecessary worry and also valuable police time and resources have been wasted,” he said.
Police investigation continues.
