Metro

Police Recover Newborn Stolen From Ekiti Health Centre

Published

2 months ago

August 6, 2025

The police in Ekiti State on Wednesday recovered the newborn baby boy stolen from a health centre in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday morning.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Eribo, said the recovery of the baby and arrest of the suspect, Deborah Ayeni, followed diligent investigation by men and officials of the command.

The CP, who spoke in his office while handing over the baby to the parents, said, “In the process of probing the case of the missing baby, we discovered a nylon bag containing new baby items in the health centre.

“We discovered the receipt of a supermarket inside it. When we got to the supermarket, the CCTV showed her face.”

Eribo, who said that someone also hinted at a lady with a baby suspected not to be hers, said that security agents followed the information, which culminated in the recovery of the baby and the arrest of the suspect.

The 34-year-old suspect, Ayeni, while explaining the situation surrounding her action, said, “I made away with the baby from the health centre because I want a baby of my own”.

The young lady, who said that she had done a marriage engagement with a United Kingdom-based man, said, “I had done an engagement with my husband. He is in the UK. I was pregnant with him, but I lost the pregnancy in March.

“I did not tell him that I lost the pregnancy because he may not marry me again. That was why I decided to find a solution to that by stealing a baby.”

The suspect, while explaining how she executed the plot, said that she went to the health facility pretending she was pregnant by stuffing herself with cloths.

She said that she decided to be friendly with the parents of the newborn especially that she could communicate with them in Hausa language, adding, “I spent the Sunday night with the family in the health centre and I had the opportunity to take the baby at about 4 am on Monday when the father had gone to observe prayers and the mother went to bathroom”.

The suspect, who denied connivance with any staff of the facility, nor stalking the baby’s mother, said she had been looking for an opportunity to take any newborn baby as her own.

She said, “It was about 10 minutes after I left the facility with the baby that I got a commercial motorcycle to take us. The bike operator had just dropped a trader who went out early for trading activities”.

Ayeni said that she fed the baby with baby food while in her custody.

The baby’s father, 29-year-old Mustapha Aliyu, who expressed joy on the recovery of the baby, said that the lady was friendly with them and that he even asked her to assist the mother in caring for the baby when he wanted to step out of the hospital.

On how it happened, Aliyu said, “The hot water supply in the health centre ran out. My wife went to the bathroom, and then I went to the mosque to pray.

“Upon returning from prayer, I realised that the lady alongside my baby was nowhere to be found.”

Metro

Fire Guts Section Of Rivers Secretariat

Published

9 hours ago

October 6, 2025

Editor

A section of the Rivers State Secretariat was on Monday evening gutted by fire, leaving parts of the complex damaged before it was brought under control.

The fire, which reportedly started a few minutes past 5 p.m., was contained through the swift response of the Rivers State Fire Service.

Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly before firefighters arrived at the scene to extinguish it, preventing further damage to nearby offices.

Although the cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault may have triggered the incident.

The Rivers State Head of Service, Inyingi Brown, also attributed the outbreak to an electrical fault, urging workers to ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off before leaving the office.

An unconfirmed source indicated that the fire may have affected the state Pension Commission, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the full impact of the incident as investigations continue.

Metro

18-year-old Hangs Self, Police Launch Investigation

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of an 18-year-old identified as Tersoo Veregh, who allegedly took his own life in Makurdi, the state capital.

According to Zagazola Makama, the deceased’s father, Mr. Veregh Nathaniel, of Iorkyaako Street, High Level area of Makurdi, made the tragic discovery around 2:00 a.m. on October 4, when he stepped out of his room to ease himself and found his son hanging from the ceiling.

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of ‘B’ Division, Makurdi, led a team of detectives to the scene. The body was photographed and later taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

Police authorities said an investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Metro

Police Intercept Illicit Drugs, Recover Pistols In Delta

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Delta State Police Command has intercepted a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected illicit drugs.

The truck, with registration number 3BGT 18LG, driven by one Dennis Uruma, a 52-year-old man from Igalamela Local Government Area of Kogi State, was intercepted by a patrol team of the Eagle Net Special Squad, Asaba, led by Commander SP Danyaya Yunusa.

The operation was conducted in synergy with the Office of the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Illicit Drugs and Human Trafficking.

The driver was arrested after the search, while the counting and measurement of the exhibits are ongoing.

In another development, on October 3, 2025, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, led by Commander CSP Nosa Alex, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a targeted raid on a suspected criminal hideout around the Basket Market area of Asaba.

During the operation, three suspects, Rabbi Godwin, 25, Lucky Nanakumo, 20, and David Igwe, 19, were arrested.

A search of the location yielded one fabricated Beretta pistol, which was recovered and secured as evidence.

Again, on October 1, 2025, the DPO ‘B’ Division, Asaba, CSP Edewor Akponegware, led his surveillance team in a swift response to a distress report about a robbery incident around the BONSAAC axis of Asaba, where a female victim was dispossessed of her phone and other valuables at gunpoint by two male suspects.

Working with local vigilantes, the team established a discreet cordon and began a methodical sweep of adjoining streets.

The coordinated push paid off when officers intercepted one suspect, Amara Nwako, 21, a male indigene of Oko, while his accomplice fled into an uncompleted building.

A locally made pistol was recovered during a search of the immediate vicinity. Preliminary findings revealed a possible cult affiliation linking the suspect to a certain Arobaga secret cult.

According to Bright Edafe, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, all the suspects remain in custody, while a manhunt is underway for the fleeing accomplice.

(DAILY POST)