The Nasarawa State Police Command has launched an investigation into the theft of a newborn baby, delivered through Caesarean Section at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, saw a yet-to-be-identified stranger stealing the baby boy a few hours after his birth.
Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu Nadada, confirmed during a press briefing in Lafia that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the baby theft. Suleiman Abdullahi, the father of the baby, reported the incident to the A Division Police Station, detailing that his brother’s wife, who was assisting in caring for the newborn, entrusted the child to an unknown woman who later disappeared with the baby.
Commissioner Nadada assured the public that the investigation, currently underway at the State Criminal Investigation Department, is not believed to be connected to ritualistic activities. He stated, “The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to journalists in due time.”
The mother of the one-day-old baby, Wosilat Suleiman, expressed distress over the loss, narrating that her relative introduced the unknown woman before leaving to retrieve a charger. The woman claimed she wanted to bathe the baby but vanished with him.
In response to the incident, Dr. Mohammed Salihu, the Acting Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the hospital, assured that this was the first occurrence of such an incident in the facility. He mentioned ongoing collaboration with the police, including the arrest of the baby’s mother’s relatives and questioning of hospital staff, to identify the suspect.
Dr. Salihu further indicated that the hospital’s management would review CCTV footage to aid in identifying and apprehending the individual responsible for the theft. The distraught mother pleaded for assistance from relevant authorities in finding her baby, emphasizing the emotional pain caused by the loss.
