Kebbi Police Arrest 19-Year-Old Woman for Allegedly Stealing Newborn to Fake Pregnancy

Operatives of the Kebbi State Police Command have arrested a 19-year-old woman, Khadija Ibrahim, for allegedly stealing a newborn baby in Zuru LGA to pass off as her own.

The suspect, a resident of Rikoto in Zuru Local Government Area, was apprehended on August 14, 2026, following a targeted police investigation.

According to Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Bashir Usman, the incident occurred when the suspect approached the mother, Fatima Muhammad, shortly after she gave birth.

Pretending to offer assistance by fetching hot water, the suspect instead fled with the child.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was driven by social and emotional pressure after failing to conceive while her peers were having children.

To cover this up, she reportedly deceived her husband for nine months into believing she was pregnant, after which she presented the baby to him as their child.

The stolen infant was safely recovered and reunited with his biological mother.

The suspect remains in police custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Commending the operatives for their swift action and professionalism, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Hadejia, reassured the public of the command’s ongoing commitment to bringing criminal offenders to justice.