On 14 August 2026, in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, the Kebbi State Police Command arrested 19-year-old Khadija Ibrahim of Rikoto over the alleged theft of a newborn baby from Fatima Muhammad, according to police authorities.

The alleged incident dates back to 23 July 2025, when Muhammad had just given birth. Police said Ibrahim allegedly approached the new mother while pretending to offer assistance and then took the newborn.

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According to the command, Ibrahim offered to fetch hot water for Muhammad before allegedly fleeing with the baby.

The circumstances surrounding the disappearance prompted an investigation that continued for more than a year before the suspect was arrested.

The case took another troubling turn during the investigation.

Police said preliminary findings suggested that Ibrahim had allegedly been under social and emotional pressure because she did not have a child while some of her peers had already become mothers.

The command further alleged that she had convinced her husband for about nine months that she was pregnant.

After Muhammad gave birth, Ibrahim allegedly took the newborn and presented the child to her husband as their own, according to the police account.

The baby was eventually recovered and safely reunited with Muhammad, the biological mother.

The recovery brings some relief to a case that had left a family separated from a newborn for more than a year.

Police have not publicly disclosed further details about where the child was found or how investigators traced the baby.

Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the arrest in a statement made available to journalists.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly been under social and emotional pressure over not yet having a child,” Usman said, according to reports quoting the police statement.

Ibrahim remains in police custody while investigations continue.

The police said she is expected to be charged in court after the investigation is completed and in accordance with the law.

The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, CP Umar M. Hadejia, commended the officers involved for their diligence and professionalism in recovering the baby and arresting the suspect.

Hadejia also reassured residents that the command remained committed to protecting children and bringing anyone found responsible for criminal conduct to justice.

The police have urged members of the public to continue providing information that could help security agencies protect vulnerable people and prevent crimes involving children.

The alleged case also highlights the pressures that can surround motherhood in communities where women may face strong expectations to have children.

However, the police have stressed that the motive attributed to Ibrahim remains part of the preliminary investigation, and the allegations have yet to be tested in court.

For Muhammad and her family, the immediate priority is the safe return of the child. For investigators, the next stage will be to establish the full circumstances of the alleged theft and determine the appropriate legal action.