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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of a newborn baby allegedly stolen from a hospital in Gboko Local Government of the state, with some suspects arrested in connection with the incident.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Peter Aondongu, confirmed the development to newsmen on Thursday in Makurdi.
Aondongu said the case was initially reported at the A Division Police Station, Gboko, before it was transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence 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.
The incident involved a baby boy who was delivered in the early hours of August 11 and was reportedly taken from his mother shortly after delivery.
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According to sources, the baby initially did not cry after birth, prompting a nurse on duty to intervene and attend to him. The mother and child were subsequently moved to a ward for further care.
The source said an unidentified woman later approached the mother, presented herself as a nurse and allegedly asked to examine the baby again, after which the mother handed the child to her.
The woman 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 said 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.
The police have commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft and the identities and roles of those arrested.
Meanwhile, the joyous mother has been reunited with her baby following the successful recovery by the police.
