A 49-year-old woman has been apprehended by the Lagos state police command for allegedly attempting to abduct a one-day-old baby from a hospital located in the Ojokoro area of the state on Friday, June 23.
According to SP Benjamin Hundeyi, the spokesperson for the state police command, the Ojokoro police division received a tip-off about the suspect, who entered the hospital posing as a patient and managed to take the newborn.
“While the mother was asleep after her surgery, the suspect entered the women’s ward and absconded with the one-day-old baby boy. Another patient noticed the suspect’s swift actions with the baby in her arms, promptly alerted the hospital authorities, and led to her arrest,” said Hundeyin.
During questioning, it was revealed that the suspect hailed from Oyo State and had been commissioned by an individual known as Alfa to procure a one-day-old baby for use in a money ritual.
Further investigations uncovered that this was not the suspect’s first offense involving child theft. Hundeyin stated that once the investigation concludes, the suspect will be brought before the court, while the baby has been safely returned to the mother.