Couple arrested for stealing day-old baby in Kano

The Police Command in Kano State has arrested a couple,  for allegedly stealing a day-old baby from Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano Obaland Magazine Learnt.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Kano.

Haruna-Kiyawa said that one Rabiu Muhammad, residing in Gayawa quarters, Ungogo LGA of  Kano, reported to the police that one of the twins his wife delivered on Sept. 7,  at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital Kano, was missing.

According to the police,  on Sept. 8 at about 0130hrs, one of his newly-born male twins was missing, when his sister-in-law, who was looking after the babies in the corridor of the maternity ward in the hospital, slept off.

“She woke up and couldn’t see one of the babies,” he said.

Haruna-Kiyawa said that upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu-Dikko, instructed a team of detectives led by SP Daniel Amah, to rescue the victim and arrest the culprits.

“The team immediately stormed the facility and launched a search operation.

“The hospital was sealed and thoroughly combed, but the baby could not be found,” he said.

He revealed that the suspects were arrested following an intelligence report.

“Intelligence report led to the arrest of one Maryam Sadiq, 22, and her husband, one Abubakar Sadiq, 50 years, all of Rijiyar Zaki quarters, Kano.

“The baby was recovered from them in their home.

“During preliminary investigations, Maryam confessed to having taken away the baby from the hospital.

“She said  her husband influenced her into committing the crime, as  he been longing for a male child.”

Haruna-Kiyawa, further explained that the suspects were said to have organised a party to celebrate the arrival of a male child in their family.

“That triggered doubts and suspicion since their neighbours knew that Maryam was not pregnant,” he said.

He added that the newborn baby had already been reunited with his parents.

The PPRO said the CP ordered that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department of the command for discreet investigations.

He added that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.