19-Year-Old Woman Arrested Over Alleged Th£ft of Newborn Baby in Kebbi

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old woman, Khadija Ibrahim, for allegedly stealing a newborn baby in Zuru Local Government Area and presenting the child to her husband as her own.

According to the police, Ibrahim, a resident of Rikoto in Zuru LGA, was arrested on August 14, 2026, following an investigation into the alleged incident, which occurred on July 23, 2025.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly approached the baby’s mother, Fatima Muhammad, shortly after she gave birth and offered to help her fetch hot water.

The police alleged that Ibrahim, who had been under social and emotional pressure over not having a child, used the opportunity to take the newborn and later presented the baby to her husband as their own. She allegedly deceived her husband for about nine months by making him believe she was pregnant.

The stolen baby has since been recovered and safely reunited with the biological mother. The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to be charged in court after the completion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Umar Hadejia, commended the officers involved in the recovery of the baby and arrest of the suspect. He also assured residents that the command would continue to protect children and bring anyone found culpable of criminal offences to justice.

The police urged members of the public to provide credible information that could help security agencies protect vulnerable persons and prevent crimes against children.