According to a statement by the Niger State Police Command on Monday, February 3, 2025, a woman's cousin who conspired with some neighbours to steal her six-month-old baby left in her care has been arrested by men of the state police command along with the neighbours.
The state police command disclosed the development on its Facebook wall on Monday afternoon, saying the cousin, Joy Nuwa, aged 20 years, was arrested by the operatives attached to the Maje Divisional Headquarters of the command along with the neighbours namely Favour James, aged 25 years; Ezekiel Emmanuel, aged 30 years and Patience Obana, aged 23 years.
(Caption): The suspects, as posted by the state police command today.
According to the command, a report was made at the Divisional Headquarters that the mother of the six-month-old baby left her with her cousin inside their house at the Kwamba area of Suleja and went out to attend to a matter.
However, upon her return, she found out that Joy, her cousin and the baby were not at home. She was said to have immediately contacted the cousin who told her that she left the baby in the house and locked the door.
The command wrote: "In the course of investigation, it was discovered that there was no breaking into the room, which led to interrogation of neighbours.
"Emmanuel Ezekiel and Favour James of the same compound were arrested. Emmanuel confessed that they conspired with Joy and took the baby to one Patience Obana of Kubwa, Abuja, to facilitate the sale of the baby.
"The said Joy, Favour and Patience were later arrested through Emmanuel and the baby was rescued unhurt. All suspects have been transferred to SCID, Minna, for further investigation."
They are expected to be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation into the incident.
Below is the screenshot of the statement by the state police command on the matter: