The Benue State Police Command on Thursday, August 13, 2026, confirmed the recovery of a newborn baby allegedly stolen from his mother at a hospital in Gboko, Benue State, on Tuesday, while several suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Aondongu, confirmed the development during a telephone interview, saying some suspects had been transferred to the state police headquarters in Makurdi while others remained in custody at the Gboko Divisional Police Headquarters.
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“I can confirm to you that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of a newborn baby in Gboko on Tuesday,” Aondongu said.
The police spokesperson added that investigations were continuing as detectives worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the baby’s disappearance and identify the roles allegedly played by those arrested.
The newborn was reportedly taken only a few hours after being delivered, triggering anxiety among the baby’s relatives and other people at the healthcare facility.
Sources said the incident drew family members, sympathisers and concerned residents to the hospital, creating tension around the facility before security personnel were deployed to help maintain order.
According to an eyewitness who spoke on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, the woman suspected of taking the baby had allegedly been following the child’s mother while pretending to be a nurse at the hospital.
The witness said the baby initially did not respond as expected immediately after birth, prompting a nurse on duty to intervene.
The infant reportedly responded normally afterwards, and the mother and baby were moved to a ward for further care.
The alleged impostor later approached the mother and reportedly asked to examine the baby again.
Believing that the woman was a member of the hospital’s nursing staff, the mother allegedly handed the newborn to her.
The woman then reportedly headed towards the labour room with the baby and told the child’s grandmother to step aside, assuring her that the situation was under control.
The grandmother reportedly complied, only for the woman to disappear with the newborn shortly afterwards.
The eyewitness said the family became alarmed when they realised the baby was missing.
“Immediately after the baby was born, the infant did not cry as expected,” the witness said, describing how the situation developed before the alleged abduction.
The witness further alleged that nurses on duty denied taking the baby from the ward and said the woman who had presented herself as a nurse was not part of the hospital’s staff.
The recovery of the stolen newborn has brought some relief to the family, although important questions remain about how the woman was able to gain access to the mother and baby and leave the facility unnoticed.
The arrests are expected to assist investigators in determining whether the incident involved an isolated impersonation or a wider network involved in the attempted trafficking of children.
The police have not publicly disclosed the identities of those arrested or provided details about where the baby was recovered.
No charges have also been announced at this stage.
The development comes amid longstanding concerns over child trafficking and newborn theft in Nigeria, where authorities have repeatedly urged hospitals and healthcare facilities to strengthen access controls, staff identification and monitoring around maternity wards.
For the affected family, the immediate priority is the safe return of the child and reunification with the mother.
For investigators, the next stage will be to establish the full chain of events and determine whether other individuals were involved.
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The Benue State Police Command has yet to provide further details on the suspects or the ongoing investigation, but the recovery of the baby represents a significant breakthrough in a case that briefly plunged the Gboko hospital community into alarm.
Morenikeji Adedayo is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
