Couple Steals Day-Old Baby From Hospital, Gets Caught After Throwing Massive Party To Celebrate

A couple in Nigeria, who stole a day-old baby from a hospital, got caught after they threw a lavish party to celebrate.

The couple, identified as 22-year-old Maryam Sadiq and 50-year-old Abubakar Sadiq, stole the newborn from a hospital in Kano State on Sept. 8 when the baby’s aunt, who was looking after him and his twin brother, fell asleep. After finding the baby missing, the child’s father immediately filed a police complaint and a search was launched, Sahara Reporters reported.

"On the 08/09/2021, at about 03:00hrs, one Rabi’u Muhammad reported that on the same day at about 01:30hrs, one of his newly-born male twin babies was missing. He said his wife delivered of the twins on the 07/09/2021 and was admitted. That his sister-in-law who was looking after the babies at the corridor of the Maternity ward slept off. She woke up and did not see the child," the local police said in a statement, Najia News reported.

Authorities immediately rushed to the hospital and sealed the building, but couldn’t find the missing newborn anywhere.

In the meantime, the accused threw a party to celebrate the child’s birthday. A few neighbors, who knew Maryam was not pregnant, raised suspicion and alerted the authorities, who arrived at the home and rescued the newborn. The accused were also taken into custody from the residence.

During interrogation, Maryam confessed to the crime and said she carried out the act under her husband’s influence who always wanted a male child.

Details regarding the charges levied against the accused were not known. The newborn has since been reunited with her parents.

Earlier this year, a woman in Uganda strangled another lady to death and stole her newborn baby. The victim, who had gone to collect firewood with her two kids, was attacked and strangled to death by the accused, who then picked up the 1-month-old infant and fled the scene. The victim’s other kid also sustained injuries after the accused attempted to strangle her too. The accused was taken into custody and charged with murder.