A 23-year-old woman, Maryam Sani, has admitted to taking a day-old baby from a hospital in Ngurore, a community in Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Maryam confessed that she had a miscarriage three months into her pregnancy but did not inform her husband. As her supposed pregnancy term approached, she felt pressured to present a baby.
During a visit to the clinic for a check-up, Maryam noticed an unattended newborn in a ward where the baby’s mother and others were sleeping outside. Seizing the opportunity, she took the infant.
“I didn’t take the newborn baby girl for any evil reason. I took her because I loved her and needed her for myself,” Maryam explained.
She managed to keep up the pretense, fooling her community and even holding a naming ceremony, without her husband suspecting anything.
However, the deception came to light when the baby’s biological parents reported the incident to the police. Following an investigation, Maryam was arrested.
Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, stated that Maryam will face legal consequences. “The command will never allow criminals of any type to have a field day in Adamawa State, and Maryam will be duly prosecuted,” Nguroje asserted.
