Police in Delta State have arrested a woman identified as Joy over the alleged abduction of two infants, which investigators say she intended to present as replacements for her late twin babies ahead of a family dedication ceremony.
The arrest was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, in a video shared on Facebook, where he described the case as one of the most troubling child abduction incidents handled by the command.
According to the police account, the suspect allegedly took a four-month-old baby after posing as a customer at a groundnut-selling point. She reportedly waited for a moment of distraction, misled a 14-year-old caregiver, and left the scene with the child.
Investigations further linked her to an earlier incident in which she allegedly abducted another infant weeks before. In that case, she was said to have gained the trust of an 18-year-old mother by offering to help her secure domestic assistance, then took the child during an outing.
Police said both incidents followed a similar pattern involving deception and close contact with the victims’ caregivers.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly stated that her actions were driven by the death of her own twin children, who she claimed died at about six weeks old while she was away from home. She reportedly explained that preparations for a dedication ceremony had already been completed and invitations distributed through her husband before the loss.
She further alleged that concern over possible reactions from relatives and guests influenced her decision to take other infants to replace them.
Authorities said she admitted to abducting the first child about three weeks earlier and the second shortly before the scheduled dedication. The children were reportedly presented at the ceremony before the case came to police attention.
The police confirmed that both infants have since been rescued, while investigations are ongoing.
The command urged parents and guardians to exercise caution, particularly in how children are entrusted to unfamiliar individuals, regardless of perceived trustworthiness.
