Tamale: Police arrest three, over baby theft

The Northern Regional Police Command has taken three people into custody following the reported theft of a newborn baby from the Heart Hospital in Tamale.

Those arrested include two nurses who were on duty at the time of the incident—Abubakari Fatima Bintu and Grace Asiedu Mensah—as well as a security guard, Abukari Iddi. The arrests were carried out on Sunday, December 21, by officers from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).

According to preliminary police findings, the baby went missing from the hospital’s labour ward after an unidentified woman allegedly gained access by posing as a nurse. Witnesses say the woman approached staff and claimed she was taking the newborn for a routine injection. She reportedly left the ward with the baby and never returned.

The disappearance triggered panic at the facility and prompted an immediate report to the police. Confirming the arrests, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Alhassan Luckman Niendow, said intelligence-led investigations were ongoing to locate the missing child and identify other individuals who may have played a role in the incident.

He assured the public that the case was being treated as a priority, given the vulnerability of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the theft.

The baby’s mother, Abdul Mumin Safiyatu, recounted the moment she realised her child was missing in an interview with JoyNews. She said she had briefly stepped out of the ward to use the washroom, only to return and find her baby gone.

An eyewitness also described how the suspected impostor entered the delivery room confidently and left with the newborn under the pretext of conducting medical checks.

The baby’s father, Bawa Sayibu, said he was informed of the birth around 1:15 a.m. and later returned to the hospital after purchasing medication for his wife and child. He said he left the hospital around 10 a.m., unaware that anything was wrong.

“I was sitting with my colleagues when my sister called me crying and asked me to rush to the hospital,” he said. “When I arrived, I was told the baby had been stolen.”

Mr Sayibu disclosed that one of those arrested was his wife, who works at the hospital, after the family formally reported the matter to the police.

News of the incident quickly spread, drawing angry residents of Lamashegu to the hospital premises. The crowd demanded answers from hospital management and security personnel, while others expressed fear and disbelief that such an incident could occur within a medical facility.

Residents called for tighter security protocols, improved access control, and stricter supervision of staff to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Police say investigations remain ongoing as efforts continue to locate the missing baby and ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.