Nasarawa State Police Command North-Central Nigeria has commenced an investigation into the case of stealing of a newborn baby who was delivered through a Caesarean section by a 20-year-old woman at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.
jerrymusa.com The newborn baby boy, on Tuesday was reported to be stolen few hours after he was given birth to, on the 9th of January, 2024, by a yet-to-be-identified stranger.
Discussing on the progress of the investigation during a press briefing in Lafia on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Nadada, said three suspects have so far been arrested in connection to the matter.
Arrest Three Suspects
According to him, “Yesterday (Tuesday), one Suleiman Abdullahi of Timber Shade went to A Division Police Station and reported that his wife had caesarian section at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.
“He narrated that his brother’s wife who was assisting his wife wanted to go home to get a charger and handed over the child to an unknown woman.
“But when she came back to the ward, she could not find the child and the woman.
“I don’t think the matter is connected to ritualis but investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department.
“The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to journalists in due time.”
Incident Happens 6am
Further investigation indicated that the incident occurred around 6am at the post-natal ward of the state-owned Specialist Hospital when the caregiver left the baby in the care of a stranger.
The hospital’s acting Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Dr. Mohammed Salihu, Reacting to the incident, said it was the first time that such a thing would happen in the hospital.
He said the management was collaborating with the police to fish-out the suspect behind the crime.
“Already, the relative of the mother of the baby have been arrested and some of our staff on duty were invited by the police for questioning.
“The management would review the CCTV footage with a view of arresting the culprit,” he added.