Police: Girl, 9, missing in Strawberry Mansion has been found safe

STRAWBERRY MANSION (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police say Zakiyah Seward, the 9-year-old girl reported missing in the Strawberry Mansion section, has been found and is safe.

On Saturday morning the neighborhood was flooded with the police.

Officers searched every corner.

K-9's searched on the ground as a police chopper hovered just above.

Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Zakiyah's family was starting to panic.

"She's 9, like please let my baby come home. We love her," said cousin Aaliyah Smalley.

The family reported Zakiyah missing at 8 p.m. Friday.

Police say she was playing in the park right by her house with a friend and never came home.

However, that friend went to her home but couldn't provide any helpful details of where Zakiyah went.

We watched with the family as we saw her on surveillance video walk in and out of a corner store just before she went missing.

Her uncle Tyrone Bennett spoke to us after calling Zakiyah by her nickname Moo Moo.

"Moo Moo, if you are out there, come on home to us. We love you," he said.

But it turns out Zakiyah was just fine.

Police announced she was found shortly after 12 p.m. Saturday.

Bennett says they would find out shortly after, she was at a friend's house.

"They say a sleep over," he said.

Bennett says somehow no one was ever told.

But he's just glad his niece is safe and thankful for the great work of our Philadelphia police.

"On behalf of my family, I'd like to thank the Philadelphia Police Department. I thank y'all, I appreciate it. God is wonderful," said Bennett.

We are certainly glad everything worked out.

The family says after having gone through an experience like this, that you always keep an eye on your children and make sure you know where they are.

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