A 23-year-old Nigerian woman, Maryam Sani, has been arrested for stealing a day-old baby from a hospital in Adamawa State.
Maryam confessed to the crime, revealing that she had miscarried three months into her pregnancy but didn’t tell her husband. As her supposed due date approached, she felt pressure to produce a baby.
Maryam took advantage of an opportunity at a clinic in Ngurore, Yola South Local Government Area, where she was receiving treatment for an illness. She snuck into a ward and took a newborn baby girl from a bed while the mother and others were outside sleeping.
Maryam claimed she didn’t intend to harm the baby and only took her out of love and a desire to keep her as her own. She managed to deceive her community, including her husband, and even held a naming ceremony for the baby.
However, her deception was exposed when her biological parents reported the incident to the police, leading to her arrest. The Adamawa State Police Command has vowed to prosecute Maryam to the fullest extent of the law.
“The command will not tolerate criminal behavior, and Maryam will face the consequences of her actions,” said Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje.
