A couple has been arrested by Kano State Police Command for allegedly stealing a day-old baby from Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano.
DSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, The command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Kano.
He disclosed 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.
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 at the corridor of the maternity ward in the hospital, slept off, according to the police.
“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.
“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 have 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 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 new born baby had already been reunited with his parents.
He added that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
