Niger State Police Arrest Woman for Conspiring to Sell Cousin’s Baby

Joy Nuwa, 20, of Nasarawa; Favour James, 25, of Kwamba; Ezekiel Emmanuel, 30, of Kwamba; and Patience Obana, 23, of Kubwa, Abuja

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old woman, Joy Nuwa, for conspiring with other suspects to abduct her cousin’s six-month-old baby in Suleja and attempting to sell the child in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The police confirmed that the baby was safely rescued and returned to her mother.

According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the baby’s mother had entrusted Nuwa with the child while she went on an errand. Instead of caring for the baby, Nuwa, along with some neighbors, took the infant to Kubwa, Abuja, intending to sell her to a buyer.

“On January 25, 2025, at about 9 a.m., police operatives attached to Maje Division arrested four suspects: Joy Nuwa, 20, of Nasarawa; Favour James, 25, of Kwamba; Ezekiel Emmanuel, 30, of Kwamba; and Patience Obana, 23, of Kubwa, Abuja,” Abiodun stated.

The case was reported to the police on January 24, 2025, at about 10 p.m., when the baby’s mother returned home to find both the child and her cousin missing. Upon contacting Nuwa, she claimed she had left the baby at home and locked the door.

During the investigation, police found no signs of forced entry, leading them to question neighbors. Two suspects, Emmanuel Ezekiel and Favour James, were arrested. Emmanuel later confessed that they had conspired with Nuwa to take the baby to Patience Obana in Abuja to facilitate the sale.

Through Emmanuel’s cooperation, police arrested Nuwa, James, and Obana, successfully rescuing the baby unharmed.

All suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.