Police Arrest Woman Who Conspired with Neighbours to Steal Cousin’s Six-Month-Old Baby for Sale in Abuja

The Niger State Police Command has arrested and paraded a 20-year-old woman, Joy Nuwa, for conspiring with her neighbors to abduct and attempt to sell her cousin’s six-month-old baby in Abuja.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the baby has been rescued unharmed and reunited with the mother. The incident occurred in Kwamba, Suleja, where the child’s mother had entrusted Nuwa with her baby while she went on an errand. Instead of watching over the child, Nuwa, along with accomplices, transported the baby to Kubwa, Abuja, with the intention of selling her.

Police operatives attached to the Maje Division arrested four suspects on January 25, 2025. Those apprehended include Joy Nuwa, 20, from Nasarawa; Favour James, 25, and Ezekiel Emmanuel, 30, both from Kwamba; and Patience Obana, 23, from Kubwa, Abuja.

The police were alerted on January 24 when the baby’s mother returned home around 10 p.m. and found both Nuwa and the child missing. When contacted, Nuwa claimed she had left the baby at home and locked the door. However, an investigation revealed no signs of forced entry, prompting the interrogation of neighbors. This led to the arrest of Emmanuel and James, who later confessed to conspiring with Nuwa. They admitted to taking the baby to Patience Obana in Kubwa, Abuja, to facilitate the sale.

Following their confessions, the police arrested Nuwa, James, and Obana, successfully rescuing the baby. The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.