Bamenda: Police arrest woman accused of kidnapping three-week-old baby.

The three-week-old baby had been stolen from his mother, one Catherine, at her home in Bambili, Tubah Subdivision, Mezam Division of the North West Region. The incident occurred January 7.

According to the Commissioner of the Bamenda Central Police Station, Commissioner Emmanuel Mbock, the suspect was arrested at Up Station Bamenda after being lured from Bafut where she had taken the baby to. 

He added that it was thanks to the collaboration of the family of the victim that the baby was recovered.

“We are able to get this baby back because the family filed a formal complaint. Such cases have been occurring yet the victims never come to us, making investigations challenging,” Commissioner Mbock said.

The 38-year-old lady, Priscilla, was presented to the media in Bamenda by authorities of the central police. 

Upon her arrest, she claimed she had no bad intent but rather, she was interested in taking care of the child who had developed health complications after birth.

The child has been handed back to the mother who was overwhelmed with joy for reuniting with her baby.

“I have been unable to sleep properly. I prayed every day and even cursed the woman who took my baby. I am just grateful to have my child back,” she said. 

She equally recounted how the tragic incident unfolded. She told reporters that: “I met this woman at the Tubah Hospital after putting to birth. We exchanged contacts and she promised to visit the baby and I, after we get discharged. She eventually came to my house on January 7. She gave me two cubes of soap, and she later complained of gastritis and asked me to buy her milk from the store. I left to the store and upon my return, she had disappeared and my baby was nowhere to be found”. 

The suspect, Priscilla, has been arrested as investigations are still ongoing. Meanwhile, authorities have called on the population to remain vigilant and report all cases to the police in time to facilitate investigations.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3359 of Tuesday February 04, 2025