Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a woman identified simply as Joy for allegedly abducting two infants and presenting them for dedication in church as replacements for her deceased twin babies.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the incident in a video posted on Facebook, describing it as one of the most shocking child abduction cases recently handled by the police.
Edafe said the suspect allegedly abducted a four-month-old baby after posing as a customer at a groundnut-selling point. She reportedly took advantage of a brief distraction, deceived a 14-year-old caregiver and fled with the child.
Further investigations revealed that Joy had allegedly kidnapped another infant weeks earlier using a similar strategy. She was said to have befriended an 18-year-old mother under the guise of helping her secure a househelp before disappearing with the baby during an outing.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed that she resorted to stealing the children following the death of her biological set of twins.
She claimed the babies died at six weeks old while she was away from home.
Edafe said preparations for the twins’ dedication ceremony had already been concluded before their death, with invitations distributed by her husband to family members and friends.
Fearing embarrassment and the reaction of invited guests, Joy allegedly decided to abduct a boy and a girl to replace the deceased twins. She reportedly admitted stealing the first child about three weeks earlier and abducting the second infant a day before the scheduled church dedication.
Police said the two children were presented and dedicated in church before the suspect was eventually arrested.
The police spokesperson urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and avoid leaving their children in the care of strangers, regardless of how trustworthy they may appear.