How Police Recovered Newborn Stolen from Ekiti Hospital

The Ekiti State Police Command has recovered a newborn baby stolen from a hospital in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, August 4.

Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the Commissioner of Police Joseph Eribo confirmed the recovery and announced that the child had been reunited with the parents.

The baby boy was handed back to his parents 29-year-old Mustapha Aliyu and 22-year-old Salmatu Lawal after a swift and well-coordinated police operation.

According to Eribo, the breakthrough came after a concerned informant reached out to a senior police officer.

She had suspicions about a woman in her area who matched the description of the suspect mentioned in recent news reports.

Following the tip-off, police revisited the hospital and found a bag that the suspect had abandoned.

Inside the bag were cotton wool and a supermarket receipt. Acting on this clue, officers retrieved CCTV footage from the store listed on the receipt.

The video revealed a woman shopping in the company of several men. This evidence helped the police to identify and apprehend the suspect.

Further investigation revealed that the woman, identified as Miss Deborah Ayeni, had faked a pregnancy. She allegedly stayed at the hospital, pretending to be an expectant mother.

When the baby’s mother briefly stepped away, Ayeni seized the opportunity and took the infant.

During interrogation, Ayeni confessed to stealing the baby.

She told journalists that she lost her pregnancy in March. Because her husband lives in the United Kingdom, she feared he might leave her if he found out she was no longer pregnant.

In a shocking twist, Ayeni admitted she spent the night at the hospital. She used that time to bond with the newborn before abducting him the next morning.

The baby’s father, Mustapha Aliyu, expressed deep gratitude to Allah for the safe return of his child. He also praised the police for their rapid and effective response.

According to him, the abduction occurred while he had briefly stepped out to buy supplies for his wife.

This successful rescue operation has drawn praise from many in Ekiti, who commended the police for acting swiftly and professionally.

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