Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a woman identified simply as Joy for allegedly abducting two infants and presenting them for a church dedication ceremony in place of her deceased twins.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the incident in a video shared on Facebook, describing it as one of the most disturbing child abduction cases handled by the command.
According to Edafe, the suspect allegedly abducted a four-month-old baby after posing as a customer at a groundnut-selling point, where she reportedly took advantage of a moment of distraction and deceived a 14-year-old caregiver before fleeing with the child.
He said investigations further revealed that Joy had earlier abducted another infant weeks before using a similar method.
In that earlier incident, she allegedly befriended an 18-year-old mother under the guise of helping her secure a house help, before making away with the baby during an outing.
Edafe said the suspect, during interrogation, allegedly confessed that she resorted to abducting the children following the death of her biological twins, who she claimed died at six weeks old while she was away from home.
According to him, she told investigators that preparations for the twins’ dedication had already been completed and invitations already distributed by her husband before the babies died.
“Fearing the reaction of relatives and invited guests, she allegedly decided to abduct a boy and a girl to replace the deceased children,” Edafe said.
He added that the suspect admitted abducting the first child about three weeks earlier and stealing the second infant a day before the scheduled dedication service.
The two children were reportedly presented and dedicated before her arrest.
Edafe urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and avoid entrusting their children to strangers, regardless of how trustworthy they may appear.
