Health
Lagos hospital workers, patients foil newborn theft
Uthman Salami
Some patients and hospital staff members at the P and G Hospital in Abule-Egba, Lagos State, on Saturday, foiled an alleged attempt by a woman to steal a newborn baby.
PUNCH Metro learnt from the Lagos State Police Command on Sunday that the suspect had been detained and would be arraigned after the conclusion of investigations.
The suspect reportedly pretended to be pregnant by stuffing pieces of cloth under her clothing, while another woman allegedly posed as someone who had come to assist her with delivery.
In one of the viral videos seen by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, the suspect was forced onto a seat as the pieces of cloth she had stuffed under her clothing fell to the floor.
As she was being dragged towards the seat, a man dressed in traditional attire was seen slapping her across the face, while other people questioned her.
Another viral video showed the suspect being held as she was made to enter a car.
Confirming the incident in response to an enquiry by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said the suspect was in custody, while efforts were ongoing to arrest her fleeing accomplice.
“The alleged perpetrator is currently in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the accomplice and charge the case to court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” she said.
This is not the first time a suspected newborn theft case has been reported in Lagos State.
In 2023, PUNCH Metro reported that a 49-year-old woman, Modinat Faniyi, was arraigned before the Yaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attempting to steal a newborn baby at Ahmadiya Muslim Hospital in the Ijaiye-Ojokoro area of the state.
Faniyi was arraigned on a one-count charge of attempted theft.
The prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the defendant entered the hospital on June 22, 2023, and allegedly attempted to abscond with the newborn while the mother was asleep.
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