By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a hospital nursing officer and a 20-year-old woman over the alleged abduction of a toddler from Babura General Hospital, while also foiling a suspected armed robbery operation in a separate incident.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the child disappeared from the hospital’s paediatric ward after police received a distress report from concerned relatives.
According to the statement, investigators traced the missing toddler through intelligence gathering and arrested Khadija Aliyu, 20, of Kinkinau Quarters in Kaduna State, on the outskirts of Babura town while she was allegedly with the child.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Sadik Sale Yahaya, 25, a nursing officer at Babura General Hospital and a resident of Zango Quarters in Gumel Division. Police alleged that he worked with the woman to facilitate the child’s abduction.
Investigators said the female suspect admitted during interrogation that she intended to transport the child to an orphanage in Kaduna State, where the toddler was allegedly to be sold for ₦2 million.
The rescued child has been placed under protective care and is expected to be reunited with his family after the completion of the necessary procedures.
Police said both suspects remain in custody while detectives continue investigations to determine the full circumstances surrounding the case and identify any other persons who may have been involved.
In another operation, police operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) thwarted a suspected robbery attempt during a routine patrol in Dutse in the early hours of Thursday.
The operatives reportedly became suspicious of an ash-coloured Sharon Galaxy vehicle carrying seven occupants along the Rashid Shekoni Teaching Hospital axis in Danmasara Quarters at about 3 a.m.
Police said the driver ignored an order to stop and sped away, prompting a chase that ended at Baranda Bush, where the suspects allegedly opened fire on the officers.
The officers returned fire, forcing the suspects to abandon the vehicle and flee into nearby bushes.
A search of the vehicle revealed one injured suspect, who was taken to a hospital but was later confirmed dead by a doctor.
Recovered items included two machetes, three sticks, ropes and a Tecno mobile phone.
The command said efforts were underway to track down the fleeing suspects and complete the investigation.
Commending officers involved in both operations, the Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Command, CP Tijjani Murtala, praised their courage and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urged residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to strengthen crime prevention across the state.
