Newborn stolen by desperate wife, co-wife exposes secret
Eight-day-old twin, Ibrahim Mohammed, was stolen from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State. Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested the woman who allegedly stole the boy, who was recovered from the suspect, and was reunited with his family on Tuesday.
The suspect was said to have disguised as a nurse to perpetrate the crime.
According to sources, the suspect allegedly stole the baby due to the constant mockery by her co-wife and family members of the husband of her childlessness.
It was gathered that the suspect took the baby home to her village in Dull, in the state’s Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, saying she gave birth to him.
Her husband was said to have rejected the baby.
It was further revealed that having heard about the case of a missing baby from ATBUTH in the media, her co-wife raised the alarm, and the matter was reported to security agents in the area.
A source said, “On getting the lead, security operatives from the DSS visited the area and found the baby and the thief, who was immediately arrested. She is currently with the DSS, being interrogated.
“In her confession, it was discovered that the suspect has never given birth. She said she stole the baby due to the mockery from her mate and other members of her husband’s family.”
The child’s mother, Bilkisu Alhassan, recalled that the culprit came and told her that she observed that the baby not having enough breast milk and needed milk mixed with other nutrients.
According to her, the woman assured her that she had spoken with a doctor in the ward who promised to get the milk and other baby foods for her.
She said, “I told her that his father had bought the food for them, but she said it was not those ones he needed, but something better.
“She asked me which between the babies was the senior and I showed her Ibrahim. She then stretched her hands and carried him. She told me that she was taking him to the children ward 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 with him,” Alhassan said.
The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the ATBUTH, Dr Haruna Liman, confirmed that the baby had been found.
While handing over the baby to the mother at the hospital, Liman said he was stolen eight days after Alhassan gave birth to a set of twins.
He said, “The baby was stolen on September 21, 2022, by 4.30pm from the mother who is receiving treatment in the hospital. The baby boy was rescued on the 27th of September around 1am in good health.”
Liman assured that the hospital would review the security architecture of the hospital as well as install more security technology devices in the hospital.
(Punch)
