A newborn baby allegedly taken from his mother at a healthcare facility in Gboko, Benue State, has been recovered by the police, with suspects arrested in connection with the incident.
The baby was reportedly taken just hours after he was born on Tuesday, August 11. He has now been reunited with his mother following a police operation in the early hours of Thursday.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondona, confirmed the development to journalists, saying the case was initially reported at the A Division Police Station in Gboko before being transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) in the midnight, we recovered the baby and the baby is at the division now.”
Aondona also confirmed that suspects had been arrested, although the police have not yet disclosed their identities or the exact number of people in custody.
How the baby allegedly disappeared
According to reports, the baby was delivered at a healthcare facility in Gboko on Tuesday. The newborn reportedly required attention shortly after delivery after he initially did not cry.
After the baby was stabilised, he and his mother were moved to a ward.
A woman who allegedly claimed to be a nurse later approached the mother and reportedly asked to examine the newborn. Believing that the woman was a hospital staff member, the mother handed over the baby.
The woman allegedly took the child towards the labour room and disappeared, leaving the family to discover that the newborn was missing.
The incident reportedly caused tension at the facility and prompted the deployment of security personnel.
The police have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance or the identities of those arrested.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to establish exactly what happened and determine the roles of the suspects.
Source: Benue State Police Command.
