Police recover newborn taken from Gboko hospital, arrest 11 suspects

The Benue State Police Command has recovered a newborn baby allegedly stolen from a healthcare facility in Gboko and arrested 11 people in connection with the case.

The command's spokesperson, Peter Aondongu, said officers at A Division in Gboko received a complaint on 12 August from Aondofa Chia, whose wife had given birth at the facility, that the baby had gone missing shortly after delivery. Nine suspects were taken in for questioning the same day, and two more were arrested that night, bringing the number in custody to 11. Aondongu identified the principal suspect as Nguhemen Asugh, 35, from whose custody the child was recovered before being reunited with his mother at the division.

Earlier reporting said a woman who presented herself as a nurse had taken the baby from his mother on the pretext of further care. Residents of Gboko said the recovery followed a police operation in the Adekaa area. Investigators are examining whether those held are connected to other reported cases of missing children in the area.