Security operatives rescue 2-week-old baby stolen from Bauchi hospital, arrest suspect

Security agents have rescued the 14 days old twin baby stolen from the maternity ward of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi State. 

The baby, Ibrahim Mohammed, was stolen on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, by a woman who posed as a hospital staff. 

The management of ATBUTH confirmed the development, adding that the baby was recovered on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. 

Handing over the child to the mother, chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the ATBUTH, Dr Haruna Liman, said that the infant was stolen from the mother eight days after delivery. 

“The baby was stolen on 21st September, 2022 by 4:30 pm from the mother who is receiving treatment in the hospital. The baby boy was rescued today being 27th of September around 1:00 am in good health and sound. We appreciate Allah and the effort put by the Internal security of the hospital, Department of Security Services (DSS) Police and other security agencies in recovering the baby,” he said. 

Liman also confirmed that security agencies have already arrested the female suspect.

“She is with them under interrogation, that is all we know after the security agencies handed over the baby to the Hospital management.” he added.

It was gathered that the suspect, who was desperate for a child, took the baby home to her village in Dull, Tafawa Balewa LGA of the state and told her husband she gave birth.

However, the husband didn’t believe her but instead told her to return the child wherever she stole him from.

According to Nigerian Tribune, when her co-wife heard about the incident of a missing baby at ATBUTH, she raised an alarm and the matter was reported to security agents in the area.

On getting the lead, security agents from the DSS visited the area and embarked on a search of a house to house where they found the baby and the woman who was immediately arrested. 

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, claiming she stole the baby due to the mockery she receives from her mate and other members of the family for not being able to have a child. 

Narrating how the incident happened, mother of the baby, Bilkisu Alhassan said that the woman shortly before stealing the baby told her that she observed that the baby was not having enough breast milk and needed to be fed with milk mixed with other nutrients.

According to her, the woman assured her that she had spoken with a doctor in the children’s ward who promised to get the milk and other baby foods for her.

“I told her that the father had bought the foods for them but she said that it was not those ones, they needed something better,” Bilkisu explained.

“She asked me which among the babies is the senior and I showed her Ibrahim, she then stretched her hands to carry him. She told me that she was taking him to the children’s examination room. I did not know her but I kind of trusted her, I told her to wait for my mother-in-law to come but she just went away.” she added.