Police Arrest Suspects, Recover Stolen Newborn Baby in Benue

The Benue State Police Command has arrested some suspects in connection with the alleged theft of a newborn baby at a hospital in Gboko Local Government Area of the state.

The command also confirmed that the baby has been recovered, bringing relief to the family after the incident sparked tension among relatives, sympathisers and other concerned persons at the healthcare facility.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Peter Aondongu, confirmed the development on Thursday during a telephone interview, saying some of the suspects had been transferred to the state police headquarters in Makurdi, while others remained in custody at the Gboko Divisional Police Station.

“I can confirm to you that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of a newborn baby in Gboko on Tuesday.

“Some of the suspects were earlier transferred to the state headquarters in Makurdi, while other suspects are in police custody at Gboko Division right now, ”Aondongu said.

The newborn was reportedly taken from the mother at the hospital a few hours after delivery on Tuesday, triggering confusion and anger among family members and other persons at the facility.

Following the incident, security operatives were reportedly deployed to the hospital to prevent a breakdown of law and order as the search for the missing baby intensified.

Woman Allegedly Posed as Nurse

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the woman suspected of taking the baby had earlier been following the mother while pretending to be a nurse attached to the hospital.

According to the witness, the baby initially did not respond immediately after birth, prompting a nurse on duty to intervene before the newborn eventually responded.

The mother and baby were subsequently moved to a ward for further care.

The witness alleged that shortly afterwards, a woman who presented herself as a nurse approached the mother and requested to examine the newborn.

Believing that she was a member of the hospital staff, the mother reportedly handed the baby to the woman.

The alleged impersonator was said to have taken the newborn towards the labour room, where she reportedly asked the baby's grandmother to step aside, assuring her that the situation was under control.

The grandmother reportedly complied, only for the woman to disappear with the baby.

The eyewitness said, “Immediately after the baby was born, the infant did not cry as expected. The nurse on duty reportedly intervened, and the newborn eventually responded normally.

“Thereafter, both the mother and the baby were taken to a ward. Not long after, an alleged child trafficker approached the mother of the newborn under the pretence of being one of the nurses.

“The suspect claimed they wanted to check the baby once again. The trafficker then took the baby from the mother and headed towards the labour room.”

The witness added that the baby's grandmother, who had been accompanying the mother, became suspicious and followed the woman to the labour room but was allegedly asked to remain outside.

It was shortly afterwards that the woman reportedly disappeared with the newborn.

Hospital Staff Deny Knowledge

As the family and other persons began searching for the baby, nurses on duty reportedly denied taking the newborn from the ward.

They were also said to have told the family that the woman who allegedly presented herself as a nurse was not a member of the hospital's staff.

The incident subsequently drew the attention of security operatives, who were deployed to the facility amid growing tension.

The police have now confirmed the recovery of the baby and the arrest of suspects in connection with the incident.

The identities of those arrested and the circumstances surrounding the baby's recovery were not immediately disclosed by the police.

The command said investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction and determine the roles played by those arrested.