Police arrest couple for stealing day-old baby

The couple, who allegedly stole a day-old baby from Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano has been arrested.

The Kano State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement  on Saturday.

According to Haruna-Kiyawa, one Rabiu Muhammad, residing in Gayawa quarters, Ungogo LGA of  Kano, reported to the police that one of the twins his wife delivered  on Sept. 7,  at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital Kano, was missing.

On September 8 at about 0130hrs, Muhammad said one of his newly-born male twins was missing, when his sister in-law, who was looking after the babies at the corridor of  the maternity ward in the hospital, slept off.

“She woke up and couldn’t find see of the babies,” he said.

“Upon receiving  the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu-Dikko, instructed a team of detectives led by SP Daniel Amah, to rescue the victim and arrest the culprits.

“The team immediately stormed the facility and launched a search operation.

“The hospital was sealed  and thoroughly combed, but the baby could not be found,” he said.

He revealed that the suspects were arrested following an intelligence report.

“Intelligence report, led to the arrest of one Maryam Sadiq, 22, and her husband, one Abubakar Sadiq, 50 years, all of Rijiyar Zaki quarters, Kano.

“The baby was recovered from them in their home.

“During  preliminary investigations, Maryam confessed to have taken away the baby from the hospital.

“She said  her husband influenced her into committing the crime, as  he been longing for a male child.”

Haruna-Kiyawa, further explained that the suspects were said to have organised a party to celebrate arrival of a male child in their family.

“That triggered doubts and suspicion,  since their neighbours knew that Maryam was not pregnant,” he said.

He added that the new born baby had already been reunited with his parents.

The PPRO said  the CP ordered that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department of the command for discreet investigations.

He added that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.