By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
A 14-day old twin baby, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was stolen from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi has been rescued from the suspect (name withheld by security agencies).
ASHENEWS reports that the twin was stolen on September 21, 2022 but has been found reunited with his twin brother and mother, while the suspect has also been arrested by security agencies on Wednesday.
According to information gathered by our reporter, after the suspect stole the baby, she spent a night in Nasarawa community before proceeding to her village, Dull in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State.
She was reported to have told her husband that she gave birth but he outrightly rejected the baby and asked her to return the baby to wherever she took him.
A source who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that the suspect’s mate had heard about the incidence of a missing baby from ATBUTH, carried in various media outlets “and she raised an alarm and the matter was reported to security agents in the area.
“Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) visited the area and embarked on house-to-house search where they found the baby and the suspect who was immediately arrested and is currently at their custody,” the source said.
In a confession, the suspect said she had never given birth and that she stole the baby due to the mockery she receives from her mate and her in-laws.
The mother of the baby, Bilkisu Alhassan told ASHENEWS that before the suspect stole the baby, she had told her that she observed that the baby needed enough breast milk and therefore needed additional milk for needed nutrients.
According to her, the woman assured her that she had spoken with a doctor at the paediatric ward who promised to get the milk and other baby foods for her.
“I told her that the father had bought milk for them but she insisted that it was not those ones, they needed something better.”
She asked the mother about the elder twin in which she pointed to Ibrahim.
“She told me that she was taking him to the children examination room. Although I did not know her, but I trusted her; I told her to wait for my mother in-law to come but she just went away.”
The chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Dr Haruna Liman, confirmed that the 14-day old twin baby was recovered.
“The baby was stolen on 21st September 2022 by 4:30 pm from the mother who is receiving treatment in the hospital. The baby boy was rescued today being 27th September around 1:00am in good health.
“We appreciate Allah and the effort put by the Internal security of the hospital, the Department of Security Services (DSS), the Police and other security agencies in recovering the baby.”
Liman said that security agencies have already arrested a woman suspected for carrying out the dastardly act.
“She is with the DSS undergoing interrogation; that is all we know after the security agencies handed over the baby to the Hospital management.”
The management then handed over the two weeks old twin baby boy to the mother who was immediately placed on breast milk.
The District Head of Bauchi who is the Chairman, League of Friends at ATBUTH, Nura Adamu Jumba urged the management of the hospital to review the security mechanism of the hospital in earnest to avoid such occurrence.
He pledged that traditional leaders would always educate communities on the proper times of visiting patients in the hospital.
While responding on behalf of the family of the stolen baby, Shitu Kalid expressed appreciation to the management of the hospital for their concern and the security agencies for recovering the baby.
