- “My relation thought strange woman have a patient at the ward” – mother
- Efforts ongoing by security agencies in search of missing newborn – hospital management
From Abel Leonard, Lafia
A distressing incident occurred at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia as a yet-to-be-identified woman stole a one-day-old baby boy from the postnatal ward on Tuesday.
The stolen baby’s mother, Mrs Wosilat Suleiman, who spoke to the media while receiving caesarian treatment as a result of the delivery recounted the harrowing ordeal, stating that a woman she was introduced to by a relative vanished with her newborn son while supposedly intending to bathe the infant.
In her account, Mrs Suleiman expressed her anguish in Hausa, pleading for assistance in locating her missing baby while still reeling from the recent caesarean section delivery.
She lamented: “My relation who was with me was with the perception that the strange woman had a patient at the ward that’s why she trusted her with the baby to go pick up somethings at home and back.”
“The woman told me she wanted to bathe the baby and disappeared with him.”
The hospital management, deeply regretful of the theft despite stringent security measures in place, conveyed their dismay.
Dr Mohammed Salihu, the Acting Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the hospital, highlighted the unprecedented nature of such an incident, noting that it is the very first time that such an incident have occurred within the hospital premises.
He clarified that the newborn was initially handed over to the mother after delivery who later handed the baby to a relative of Mrs Suleiman before the unfortunate episode unfolded due to the relative’s trust in the unfamiliar woman.
Dr Salihu assured that the hospital reported the theft to the authorities, with ongoing police investigations.
“Already the relation of the mother of the baby has been arrested and some of our staff on duty were invited by the police for questioning,” he stated, emphasising the commitment to utilise CCTV footage to apprehend the perpetrator.
Daily Sun reports that the community remains on high alert as efforts persist in finding the missing newborn, while the hospital and law enforcement are collaborate to unravel this distressing case.