Police in Benue nab 26-year-old woman for stealing six-week-old child

The Police at ‘E’ Division, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have arrested a 26-year- old woman, identified simply as Devine, for stealing a six-week-old baby.

Devine was said to have stolen the child, named Doochivir Ukeyima, at 26, Tony Odu Street, Gyado Villa in Makurdi and was trying to escape with the baby when 10-year-old Hembadoon Tersoo alerted the mother of the incident.

Mother of the child, Mrs. Doris Ukeyima, who was weeding behind the house, immediately raised alarm, leading to the arrest of Divine by a vigilante group in the area.

Speaking to The Guardian, yesterday, in Makurdi, father of the abducted child, Mr. Ukeyima Samuel, said the incident took place on Thursday around 11 am.

He explained: “I was already at my place of work when I received a called to come home, that somebody had stolen my child, but the person had been arrested by the vigilante in the area.

“From what I gathered, the lady came to the house through a bush path behind our house. My wife left the child alone in the house and was weeding the premises.

“This lady then went straight into my house and carried the baby, but unknown to her, a 10-year-old girl from my neighbour’s house was watching her.

“It was the girl who alerted my wife and she raise alarm, leading to the arrest of the woman.”

But giving her side of the story, the suspect said she was in the state for ‘runs.’ When asked the kind of ‘runs,’ she told The Guardian that she was in Makurdi to do prostitution.

She explained that she was lodging in a hotel along Gboko road and only came to the area to visit her friend, Blessing, who told her she was living around the area.

She, however, could not explain what she was doing with the child, but simply apologised and begged for forgiveness.

Police sources handling the case said they were still investigating the matter, adding: “Please, I don’t want you to use my name in paper, but what I can tell you now is we are doing our investigation.

“We are yet to establish the case, but we have been trying to get people connected to the suspect to verify certain information.”

But when contacted, state Police Command spokesman, Moses Yamu, said: “I don’t have that report yet, I will have to find out.”