Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The Police in Niger state say they have arrested 24-year-old Johnson Chidi, also known as 'Yaron Pastor', residing at Abdulsalam quarters, Minna for alleged deceitfully taking away of a newborn baby.
The incident, according to a statement by the Command's Public Relations Officer, SP Wasi'u Abiodun, occurred around Mobil round-about on 14th July, 2026 was reported at the A Division, prompting the detectives to immediately commence investigation and deploy technical intelligence, which led to the arrest of the suspect.
During investigations, the suspect confessed that he was contracted to produce a baby by 22-year-old Zainab Ibrahim of Alagbado area of Minna, but residing in Sokoto state to procure a newborn baby following her reported miscarriage.
To carrying out the task, Johnson said he lured a nursing mother and her four-week-old baby to the Kasuwan-Gwari area under the pretext that a benefactor would give the child some food items and alms (Sadaka).
On arrival, the victim and her friend were instructed by Zainab to contact Chidi, who subsequently met them and led the victim into an uncompleted building near Mobil roundabout, offering snacks and soft drinks to gain their confidence.
While the victims were carried away, the suspect pretending to play with the baby swiftly fled the scene with the baby through the rear exit of the building and disappeared with already motorcycle to unknown destination.
The contractor, Zainab was also arrested and the baby rescued, while the the child has since been reunited with the mother, and the suspects in police custody undergoing investigations, after which they will be prosecuted in the law Courts for prosecution. NNL.
