The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a 34-year-old woman, identified as Deborah, for allegedly stealing a newborn baby from a primary health centre in the state capital.
The incident reportedly occurred at a health facility in Okeiyinmi, where panic spread after a newborn went missing less than 24 hours after delivery.
Acting on credible intelligence, police officers traced the suspect to her residence along Afao Road in Ado-Ekiti and arrested her on Wednesday.
Speaking at the police headquarters, Deborah confessed to the crime and said she carried out the act to protect her long-running lie to her boyfriend who lives in the United Kingdom. According to her, she had been pretending to be pregnant in order to collect money from him for years.
“I told my boyfriend in the UK that I was pregnant. When he said he was coming to visit, I panicked. I had been lying to him and didn’t want to lose him,” she admitted. “On Sunday, I stuffed clothes under my clothes to appear pregnant and entered the maternity ward, pretending to be an expectant mother.”
Deborah added that she bonded with the baby’s mother, who was from northern Nigeria, by speaking Hausa. When the child’s father stepped out to buy some items, the baby’s mother asked her to help watch the child. She used the opportunity to abduct the baby around 5 a.m. on Monday while the mother was asleep and no health worker was present.
Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, confirmed the arrest and said it was made possible through a tip-off from a resident who had suspicions after the baby’s disappearance was reported.
Eribo explained that a bag left behind by the suspect at the hospital contained baby supplies and a receipt from a supermarket in the city. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the store, which revealed Deborah’s identity.
“Thanks to the quick response of our team and cooperation from the community, we were able to identify and locate the suspect,” Eribo said. “A member of the public who knew she wasn’t pregnant but suddenly had a newborn also came forward after hearing about the incident.”
The police commissioner urged residents to remain alert and share any suspicious activity with law enforcement. “This case shows how important it is for citizens to speak up. Community cooperation is key to preventing and solving crimes,” he said.
