A woman suspected of stealing a newborn baby boy from the Comprehensive Health Centre, popularly known as Division Hospital, Gboko, has been arrested by youths in the Adekaa area of the town.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Yavihi, was reportedly arrested at about 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday at her residence on Ikyese Street, Adekaa, and subsequently handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force, A Division, Gboko.
She is expected to be transferred to the Benue State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Makurdi, for further investigation.
The arrest reportedly followed growing suspicions by the suspect’s landlady, Mrs. Benedict, who said she had become concerned about inconsistencies in the woman’s claims regarding her pregnancy and delivery.
According to the landlady, the suspect returned home at about 8:00 a.m. and claimed she had been discharged from a hospital in Vandeikya Local Government Area after undergoing a Caesarean section.
She reportedly told her landlady that she had given birth to twins but lost one of the babies, leaving her with only one child.
However, Mrs. Benedict said several aspects of the woman’s story raised suspicions.
She explained that when the suspect moved into the house earlier in the year, she had initially claimed that her expected delivery date was in March, but no birth was recorded at the time.
The landlady also questioned how the suspect, who claimed to have undergone a Caesarean section only days earlier, was able to carry out strenuous household activities without showing signs of significant post-operative discomfort.
According to her, the type of plaster used to cover the alleged surgical wound also raised questions.
When confronted, the suspect reportedly maintained that only the doctor who performed the operation could explain the nature of the dressing. She was also said to have attributed her reportedly quick discharge from the hospital to advances in medical technology.
Mrs. Benedict further alleged that the suspect had, for about three months, regularly left the house dressed in a nurse’s uniform and carrying a bag, while visiting different health facilities.
She said the woman last left home on Monday and later returned with a newborn baby.
The landlady said her suspicions intensified after a relative asked the suspect whether she was aware of reports of a newborn allegedly stolen from Division Hospital.
According to her, the suspect’s response further strengthened her belief that the baby in her possession might be the missing child. Mrs. Benedict said she subsequently alerted other members of the community, leading to an interrogation of the suspect.
Neighbourhood youths were later invited, and after further questioning and checks, the woman was allegedly unable to substantiate her claim that she had given birth to the child. It was at that point, residents claimed, that it became apparent that the baby allegedly belonged to another woman.
The suspect’s husband, popularly known as Ancheen, reportedly fainted after learning of the allegation and was rushed to a hospital.
The landlady said that before the arrival of the youths, she overheard the couple arguing, with the husband allegedly insisting that the child was not his.
He was said to have urged his wife to return the baby to wherever she had obtained him, while the suspect allegedly maintained that the child belonged to him.
Residents also alleged that the suspect had prevented her husband from having sexual relations with her during the period she claimed to be pregnant, reportedly telling him that doctors had warned that intercourse could endanger the pregnancy.
Some residents further claimed they had not observed physical changes consistent with the pregnancy the woman had reportedly claimed.
Meanwhile, sources alleged that the suspect had previously worked around health facilities in Gboko despite not being a qualified nurse.
She was said to have previously worked as a cleaner at Division Hospital and had also worked at a chemist shop, where she reportedly gained experience assisting with deliveries, circumcisions and other basic procedures.
Sources alleged that her experience had enabled her to occasionally assist with similar activities at health facilities.
However, a staff member of Division Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the suspect was not employed by the facility during the period under review, although the source acknowledged that she had been visiting the hospital regularly in recent times.
The source also alleged that the woman had been telling people she was pregnant with twins and planned to undergo surgery at another hospital when the time came.
It was further gathered that a commercial motorcyclist who allegedly transported the suspect and the baby after the child’s disappearance later went to Division Hospital after learning of the incident.
The motorcyclist was reportedly taken to the A Division Police Station to assist investigators in identifying the suspect and locating her residence.
However, by the time the police arrived in the area, residents had reportedly apprehended the suspect.
There was jubilation at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Gboko, following the recovery of the newborn and his reunion with his mother, Mrs. Hembafan Aondofa.
Residents and visitors reportedly trooped to the hospital to witness the baby’s return, including members of the Gboko Traditional Council led by the Ter Gboko, Chief Gabriel Shosun.
The baby’s disappearance had earlier led to the arrest of nine persons, including health workers, a security personnel attached to the facility and the baby’s father, who were reportedly taken to the state CID for investigation.
With the arrest of the suspected child trafficker, the number of persons reportedly taken into custody rose to 10.
A woman said to have previously employed the suspect at a chemist shop was also reportedly taken away by police on Wednesday, bringing the total number of arrests to 11 at the time of filing this report.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his phone had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report
