19-year-old Kebbi woman vanishes with newborn baby

By Anuoluwa Amao

Police in Kebbi State have arrested 19-year-old Khadija Ibrahim of Rikoto in Zuru Local Government Area, accused of stealing a newborn baby from its biological mother and passing the infant off to her own husband as their child.

According to investigators, the incident dates back to July 23, 2025, when Khadija allegedly visited new mother Fatima Muhammad shortly after she had given birth, offering to help by fetching hot water. Instead of returning, police say she fled the scene with the newborn.

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Preliminary findings suggest the alleged abduction was driven by mounting personal pressure investigators say Khadija had been struggling emotionally with her inability to conceive, a strain reportedly worsened by watching peers around her start families of their own.

Police allege that in the months leading up to the incident, Khadija had convinced her husband she was pregnant, sustaining the deception for roughly nine months. When Fatima Muhammad’s baby was born, she allegedly seized the opportunity to present the stolen infant to her husband as their biological child.

The arrest came on August 14, 2026, following an extended police investigation. Authorities confirmed the baby was recovered safely and has since been reunited with the biological mother.

Police say Khadija remains in custody and will be formally charged once investigations are complete, in line with applicable law.

Commissioner of Police for Kebbi State, CP Umar Hadejia, commended the officers involved for their diligence in tracking down the suspect and ensuring the child’s safe recovery. He further assured residents of the command’s ongoing commitment to protecting children in the state and holding perpetrators accountable under the law.