A man who snatched a four-week-old baby from his mother after luring her into an uncompleted building has told men of the Niger State Police Command that he carried out the act after he was contracted by a lady who just suffered a miscarriage.
The command announced the arrest of both the man and the lady that contracted her in a statement on Friday, giving their names as Chidi Johnson, aged 24 years and Zainab Ibrahim, aged 22 years.
It was gathered that on July 14, around 10:00 a.m., a report was received at ‘A’ Divisional Headquarters, Minna, indicating that the baby was deceitfully taken away from his mother around Mobil Roundabout area of the city.
Upon receipt of the report, detectives commenced investigation which led to the arrest of Chidi Johnson, popularly known as Yaron Pastor.
According to reports, during the investigation, he confessed that Zainab Ibrahim of Alagbado area in Minna contracted him to procure a newborn baby following her miscarriage.
He further told the operatives that in carrying out the task, he lured the nursing mother to the area under the pretext that the child would be given some food items and alms by a benefactor.
On arrival, the mother was instructed by Zainab to contact Chidi, who subsequently led her into an uncompleted building near the roundabout, offering snacks and soft drinks to gain her confidence.
However, while pretending to play with the baby, the man snatched him from the mother and fled through the rear exit of the building to unknown destination.
The command said the rescued baby had been reunited with the mother, while the man and the woman are in custody undergoing investigation.
They are expected to be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
