A 19-year-old woman in Kebbi State has been arrested for allegedly stealing a newborn baby and handing the child over to her husband after reportedly pretending to be pregnant for nine months.
The bizarre incident occurred in Zuru Local Government Area of the state, where the suspect allegedly snatched the baby from its mother shortly after delivery.
According to the police, the drama began on July 23, 2025, when the suspect visited a woman identified as Fatima Muhammad, who had just given birth.
Rather than simply offering words of support, the suspect allegedly volunteered to fetch hot water for the new mother.
But police said the offer was allegedly a ploy.
The teenager reportedly left with the newborn and failed to return with the water, allegedly fleeing with the baby and setting in motion a year-long deception.
Police spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect had allegedly come under pressure to have a child, particularly after seeing some of her peers become mothers.
The pressure, according to the police, allegedly pushed her into deceiving her husband for about nine months by making him believe she was pregnant.
When Fatima eventually gave birth, the suspect allegedly saw an opportunity to make the false pregnancy appear real by taking the newborn and presenting the baby to her husband as their child.
Her alleged deception, however, eventually unravelled.
The police said sustained investigation led to her arrest on August 14, 2026.
Fortunately, the stolen baby was recovered and reunited with the biological mother.
The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to face prosecution after investigations are concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Umar Hadejia, commended the officers involved in the operation, particularly for ensuring the safe recovery of the child.
He also assured residents that the command would continue to protect children and prosecute anyone found responsible for such offences.
The statement was signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, on August 16, 2026.
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