The Edo State Police Command has exhumed the remains of a preterm baby and arrested the child’s mother for allegedly making a false report.

This followed an order by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, to investigate an alleged disappearance of the baby, initially reported to have been stolen after delivery.

The Guardian had reported that a 46-year-old fake medical doctor identified as Osazee Okumgbowa was arrested and paraded on 3rd of July after the mother of the baby, Princess Oke reported to the police that her baby allegedly disappeared after the fake medical doctor helped her deliver the baby.

Oke in her statement told the police that she regained consciousness after delivery only to find the placenta, while she was later informed that her baby had died.

She rejected the explanation, insisting that the baby was alive and demanded that the suspects produce her child. This prompted her to report the matter which led to the arrest of the fake medical doctor and his accomplishes.

Other suspects accused are a nurse, Dorcas Falade, 36, of Grace Health Maternity Healthcare, along Upper Sokponba Road, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area. She accused them of conspiring to sell her newborn baby boy.

This prompted the CP Agbonika, now AIG, to order the immediate investigation, and the process and arrested Nurse Falade and one Godwin Atekha, 49, over alleged complicity.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ebi Ikoedem said detective traced the baby’s grave and exhumed the remains, throwing the initial baby-theft allegation into fresh controversy.

According to the PPRO, preliminary findings suggested that the case may have involved an alleged attempt to terminate the pregnancy, rather than the theft of a newborn as initially reported by the mother.

She alleged that Princess Oke had gone to the facility to terminate the pregnancy against her mother’s advice and did not inform her mother that she was visiting the facility on the day of the incident. Going by the latest findings, subsequently arrested Oke for allegedly making a false report.

According to her, the Anti-Violent Crimes Unit has been further directed to unravel the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death and burial and determine whether the case involved child trafficking or any other related criminal offence.