Police arraign woman for allegedly stealing baby in Benue
The Police Command in Benue on Thursday arraigned one Miss Nguyemen Mtomga before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a baby.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp Stella Ngbede, told the court that the case of abduction and child trafficking. was received at the Criminal Investigation Deparptment, Makurdi from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ugba, Logo LGA via a letter NO.AR:3100BNS/LOG/VOL.1/409 dated 17th December.
Ngbede said that on 15th December one Haycenth Iti of G.R.A ll, Ugba, Logo LGA reported the case at Ugba Police Station.
She said the complainant alleged that some time in January, his girlfriend, Nguyemen Mtomga of Mbate, Logo LGA told him that she was pregnant for him but after five months he could not see any sign of pregnancy.
The Prosecutor further averred that on Nov. 7, the accused left the complainant to Gbagi Village, Ukum LGA, and then on the Nov. 9, she called him and told him that she had put to bed a baby boy.
Ngbede said that the defendant, however, on Nov. 23, returned to Ugba with a five months old baby boy.
The Prosecutor said during Police investigation, the defendant was arrested and she confessed to committing the crime.
Ngbede said that the defendant admitted during Investigation that she left Ukum to Damsa village in Donga LGA of Taraba State and stole the baby from one Mrs Winifred Kpachir of Damsa village in Donga LGA.
She said the defendant’s action contravened the Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue State, 2017 and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Prohibition Act, 2006.
When the case came up for mention, however, the court did not take the defendant’s plea for want of jurisdiction.
Magistrate Christy Ikpe remanded the defendant at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre Makurdi.
She adjourned the case until Jan. 18 2023.
