Police rescue stolen newborn in Benue, arrest 11 suspects
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has rescued a newborn baby allegedly stolen shortly after delivery at a healthcare facility in Gboko and arrested 11 suspects in connection with the incident.
The baby was reportedly recovered from the custody of the alleged principal suspect and subsequently reunited with the mother.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Peter Aondongu, who disclosed this in a statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the incident was reported to the Command on August 12, 2026.
He said, “On August 12, 2026, at about 11am, operatives of the Command attached to A Division, Gboko, received a complaint from one Aondofa Chia, whose wife had recently delivered a baby at a healthcare facility in Gboko, that the newborn had gone missing.”
Aondongu said the police immediately commenced investigation, leading to the arrest of nine suspects who were taken into custody to assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
He said further investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects at about 10pm the same day, bringing the number of suspects in custody to 11.
The PPRO identified the alleged principal suspect as 35-year-old Mrs Nguhemen Asugh, from whose custody the baby was recovered.
“The stolen newborn baby was subsequently rescued from her custody and safely reunited with the mother,” he said.
Aondongu said investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the alleged roles and culpability of each suspect.
The Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for their swift response and professional handling of the case, assuring residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
Nwadiogbu urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
The Command also urged members of the public with credible information on criminal activities to report to the nearest police station or contact its emergency lines on 08066006475 and 07067374913.
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