The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old woman, Khadija Ibrahim, in connection with the alleged abduction of a newborn baby in Zuru Local Government Area. The command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday, detailing a sequence of events that began shortly after the child’s mother, Fatima Muhammad, delivered at a local facility on July 23, 2025.
According to police, Ibrahim, a resident of Rikoto, had approached Muhammad under the pretense of assisting with post-delivery care, offering to fetch hot water. She allegedly fled with the infant moments later. Preliminary investigations suggest the suspect had been under significant personal pressure to conceive, particularly as her peers had already become mothers. Investigators further allege that Ibrahim deceived her husband for approximately nine months, leading him to believe she was pregnant.
Police said the suspect presented the stolen baby to her husband as their own child following Muhammad’s delivery. After what authorities described as a sustained investigation, Ibrahim was apprehended on August 14, 2026. The newborn was recovered safely and reunited with the biological mother. The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be charged upon the conclusion of investigations.
Commissioner of Police Umar M. Hadejia commended the investigative team for their diligence and professionalism, emphasizing the priority placed on the child’s safe return. The case has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities surrounding maternal and newborn care in local Health settings, as well as the social pressures that can drive desperate acts. Authorities have urged communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around maternity wards and residential areas. The command reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring swift justice in cases involving child welfare.
