The Delta State Police Command has arrested a woman identified simply as Joy for allegedly abducting two infants to replace her deceased twin babies ahead of a planned child dedication ceremony.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bright Edafe, revealed the incident in a video shared on Facebook.
He described the incident as one of the most disturbing child abduction cases handled by the command.
Edafe said the suspect allegedly abducted a four-month-old baby after posing as a customer at a groundnut-selling point.
He said the suspect allegedly took advantage of a moment of distraction, deceived a 14-year-old caregiver and fled with the child.
According to him, police investigations further revealed that Joy had allegedly abducted another infant weeks earlier using a similar method.
She was said to have befriended an 18-year-old mother under the pretext of helping her secure a househelp before making away with the baby during an outing.
Edafe said that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed that she resorted to stealing the children following the death of her biological twins, who she claimed died at six weeks old while she was away from home.
The spokesman said: “The suspect told investigators that preparations for the twins’ dedication had already been concluded and invitations distributed by her husband before the babies died. “Fearing the reaction of relatives and invited guests, she allegedly decided to abduct a boy and a girl to replace the deceased children.
Edafe said the suspect admitted abducting the first child about three weeks earlier and stealing the second infant a day before the scheduled dedication service.
The two children were allegedly presented and dedicated before her arrest.
He urged parents and guardians to be vigilant and avoid entrusting their children to strangers, regardless of how trustworthy they may appear.
The spokesman added that both infants had been rescued, while investigations into the matter remain ongoing.
