Edo police arrest hospital staff over mysterious disappearance of newborn baby

The Edo State Police Command has arrested several staff members of a private hospital in Benin City following the reported disappearance of a newborn baby under circumstances that have sparked public concern and prompted a full-scale investigation.

The arrests were confirmed by the spokesperson of the command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who disclosed that the affected health workers were taken into custody to assist police investigators in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to the police spokesperson, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, has ordered an extensive investigation into the matter and directed that the case be transferred to the State Police Headquarters for thorough handling.

Ikoedem stated that the police were treating the matter with utmost seriousness due to its sensitive nature and the disturbing allegations surrounding the disappearance of the infant.

“The Commissioner of Police has directed that the matter be transferred to the State Police Headquarters for a comprehensive investigation. Some staff members of the health facility are currently assisting investigators as inquiries continue,” she said.

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Sources familiar with the case disclosed that the incident occurred at a private medical facility located on Omouwadiae Street, off Upper Sakponba Road, in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

Preliminary reports indicate that the baby’s mother reportedly fell into a postpartum coma shortly after successfully delivering the child at the hospital.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, concerns emerged when the woman regained consciousness and requested to see her newborn baby.

The source alleged that health workers on duty at the facility were unable to produce the child when the mother demanded to see her baby, leading to confusion and anxiety within the hospital.

“The woman asked to see her baby after regaining consciousness, but the health workers could not account for the child. That immediately raised suspicion and alarm,” the source said.

The situation reportedly escalated when the distressed mother was informed that the newborn could not be located. She subsequently raised an alarm, prompting the matter to be reported to law enforcement authorities.

Following the complaint, police operatives commenced investigations into the alleged disappearance, leading to the arrest of several hospital staff members believed to have relevant information about the incident.

Investigators are currently working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the baby’s disappearance, including the events that transpired between the time of delivery and the mother’s recovery from the postpartum condition.

As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives are expected to review hospital records, interview medical personnel, and examine security measures at the facility to determine whether foul play was involved.

Meanwhile, efforts to obtain the reaction of the hospital’s management have so far proved unsuccessful.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, identified simply as Okungbowa, could not be reached for comments. Likewise, a matron who was reportedly on duty at the time of the incident was unavailable for questioning by journalists.

Repeated attempts to contact officials of the medical facility for clarification on the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has generated widespread concern among residents and healthcare stakeholders, with many calling for a swift and transparent investigation to establish the whereabouts of the missing baby and hold anyone found culpable accountable.

Police authorities have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that every effort is being made to uncover the truth behind the troubling incident.