LAGOS, Nigeria – The Ekiti State Police Command have recovered a newborn baby boy stolen from a health centre in Ado Ekiti and arrested a 34-year-old woman, Deborah Ayeni, who confessed to faking pregnancy to deceive her fiancé in the UK.
The dramatic recovery took place on Wednesday after a swift investigation led by the Command, which tracked down the suspect using CCTV footage and a supermarket receipt found in her abandoned bag at the clinic.
“We discovered a nylon bag containing new baby items in the health centre. Inside it was a supermarket receipt. When we got to the supermarket, the CCTV showed her face,” said Commissioner of Police Joseph Eribo during the handover of the child to his parents.
Ayeni, during interrogation, admitted she had stolen the baby out of desperation after losing her pregnancy earlier this year. She feared her fiancé, who lives in the United Kingdom, would cancel their planned marriage if he found out she had miscarried. “I had done an engagement with my husband. He is in the UK. I was pregnant with him, but I lost the pregnancy in March,” she said. “I did not tell him because he may not marry me again. That was why I decided to find a solution to that by stealing a baby.”
She reportedly disguised herself with stuffed clothing to appear pregnant and befriended the newborn’s parents, who also spoke Hausa, making it easier to gain their trust.
The baby’s father, 29-year-old Mustapha Aliyu, recalled the moment the baby went missing. “The hot water supply in the health centre ran out. My wife went to the bathroom, and then I went to the mosque to pray. Upon returning from prayer, I realised that the lady alongside my baby was nowhere to be found.”
He expressed immense relief at the safe return of the child, commending the police for their swift and thorough efforts.
The police say Ayeni will be charged in court as investigations continue.
