The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of a newborn baby allegedly stolen a few hours after birth from a hospital in Gboko Local Government Area of the state.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Peter Aondona, confirmed the development to journalists on Thursday in Makurdi.
Aondona said the case was initially reported at the A Division Police Station, Gboko, before it was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
He said the baby was recovered in the early hours of Thursday and was currently at the police division, adding that arrests had been made in connection with the incident.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) in the midnight, we recovered the baby and the baby is at the division now.
“The total number of suspects involved will be communicated later, but I can confirm that arrests were made and the baby has been recovered,” he said.
Recall that the baby boy was delivered in the early hours of 11 August and was reportedly taken from his mother shortly after birth.
It was reported that the baby initially did not cry after birth, prompting a nurse on duty to intervene and stabilise the child, after which the mother and baby were moved to a ward for further care.
According to sources, an unidentified woman allegedly approached the mother, presenting herself as a nurse, and reportedly requested to examine the baby again, after which the mother allegedly handed the child to her.
She was said to have taken the baby towards the labour room, while the baby’s grandmother followed but was allegedly asked to remain outside.
The source said the baby was subsequently discovered missing, while nurses on duty reportedly denied taking the child and stated that the woman was not a member of the hospital staff.
The incident reportedly attracted family members and sympathisers to the hospital, creating tension within the facility and prompting the deployment of security operatives.
Our correspondent reports that the mother has now been reunited with her baby.
(The Sun)