Woman, 10 Others Arrested Over Stolen 1-day-Old Baby In Benue

The Benue State Police Command has rescued a newborn baby who was reportedly stolen immediately after delivery in a healthcare facility in Gboko town.

The police stated that 11 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
In a statement issued yesterday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, he said on 12th August, 2026, operatives of the command attached to A Division, Gboko, received a complaint from one Aondofa Chia, whose wife was delivered of a baby at a healthcare facility in Gboko that the baby had gone missing.

He said upon receipt of the report, police operatives commenced an investigation, which led to the arrest of nine suspects for questioning and to assist in establishing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

According to him, “Further investigation led to the arrest of two more suspects at about 10 p.m. on the same date, including the principal suspect, Mrs Nguhemen Asugh, aged 35 years, who stole the infant baby.

“The baby was subsequently rescued from her custody and safely reunited to the mother,” he said.

With the latest arrests, a total of eleven (11) suspects are currently in Police custody in connection with the offence”

The police disclosed that an investigation was ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the case, “determine the roles played by all the suspects and each person’s degree of culpability”

The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the operatives for their Swift response and professional handling of the incident.

He reassured the people of Benue State that the Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue to respond decisively to reports of crime and threats to public safety.

The Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities or deliver credible information to the nearest Police station, “or “through the CommaCommand’s emergency lines: 08066006475 and 07067374913”

Meanwhile, an eyewitness account said a newborn baby was stolen from his mother at the Comprehensive Health Clinic, Gboko, on Tuesday, a few hours after the baby was delivered.

According to the eyewitness, the suspect, disguised as a hospital health worker, has been following the nursing mother.

Another eyewitness told journalists in Makurdi that the baby was said not to be responding at the time he was born, which prompted the nurse to move the mother and the baby to a ward for further care.

The eyewitness further claimed that shortly after they were moved to the ward, a woman suspect approached the mother and asked to examine the baby again. The mother handed over the baby to her without knowing she was not a nurse.

Before the mother of the newborn baby started looking for her infant, the suspect found her way out of the hospital with the baby.