The Delta State Police Command has arrested a woman identified as Joy for allegedly abducting two infants in a desperate attempt to replace her deceased twin babies ahead of a planned child dedication ceremony.
Shocking Incident Revealed
The shocking incident was disclosed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, who described the case as one of the most disturbing child abduction incidents recently handled by the police in the state.
According to Edafe, investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly kidnapped a four-month-old baby after posing as a customer at a groundnut-selling point. Taking advantage of a momentary distraction among attendants, she reportedly deceived a 14-year-old caregiver and escaped with the infant.
Second Abduction
Further police investigations uncovered that the suspect had earlier abducted another baby using a similar method. She allegedly befriended an 18-year-old mother under the pretext of assisting her in securing a house help. During an outing, Joy reportedly seized the opportunity to make away with the child.
Confession and Motive
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crimes, explaining that she resorted to abducting the children after the death of her biological twins. According to her statement, the twins died at six weeks old while she was away from home.
Joy told investigators that arrangements for the dedication ceremony had already been concluded before the tragedy occurred. She claimed that her husband had sent out invitations to family members, friends, and well-wishers ahead of the event. Faced with the prospect of explaining the loss of the children to relatives and invited guests, the suspect allegedly decided to abduct two infants—a boy and a girl—to replace her deceased twins and proceed with the dedication ceremony as planned.
Timeline of Abductions
The suspect further admitted that she stole the first child approximately three weeks before her arrest and abducted the second infant just a day before the scheduled church dedication service. She revealed that the two stolen children were presented and dedicated during the ceremony before law enforcement authorities tracked her down and arrested her.
Police Reaction and Warning
Reacting to the development, SP Edafe expressed shock and concern over the circumstances surrounding the case. He urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to exercise greater vigilance in the protection of children, warning against placing trust in strangers regardless of how friendly or convincing they may appear.
The police spokesperson emphasized the importance of close supervision of children, noting that child traffickers and abductors often exploit moments of carelessness and use deceptive tactics to gain access to their victims.
Rescue and Investigation
The Delta State Police Command confirmed that the abducted children have been rescued and reunited with authorities for appropriate care and identification processes. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the suspect acted alone or had accomplices in the abductions. The police authorities have assured the public that the suspect will be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of investigations.
