THE Ekiti State Police Command has successfully rescued a newborn boy who was abducted from the Oke-Iyimi Health Centre in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
The child, just one day old, was found and safely returned to his parents, while the woman behind the abduction has been arrested.
The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Aribo, disclosed the development during a press briefing today.
According to him, the police acted swiftly after receiving a distress call about the missing baby.
The suspect had left a trail—a cotton wool receipt—which helped authorities track her to a popular supermarket where she was captured via CCTV footage.
The suspect, 34-year-old Deborah Ayeni, confessed to stealing the baby to cover up the loss of her pregnancy.
She revealed that she suffered a miscarriage in March 2025 but didn’t inform her fiancé, who had travelled to the United Kingdom in 2024 shortly after their traditional engagement. Fearing abandonment, she faked a pregnancy by stuffing clothes under her clothing.
“I was playing with the baby’s mother at the hospital because I understand Hausa, and we got friendly,” she said.
“Her husband asked me to watch the baby while he stepped out. I took the baby around 4 a.m. and left on a bike minutes later.”
Deborah claimed she had never committed such a crime before and said desperation drove her to it. She was not admitted to the hospital but pretended to be pregnant and in labour to gain access.
The baby’s father, Mustapha Aliyu, 29, expressed shock, stating he had no idea the woman he had briefly interacted with on Sunday had malicious intent.
According to him, she claimed to be at the hospital for delivery and had seemed friendly.
He suspects she had scouted other hospitals before choosing the health centre for her act.
Commissioner Aribo confirmed that the baby has been reunited with his family, while the suspect remains in custody pending further investigation.