According to police, the incident occurred on August 10, 2025.

The suspect, who had been pretending to be a caretaker at the Wa Regional Hospital, befriended the child’s mother, Ms. Kwofie Mwinbelle, shortly after she delivered on August 1.

Investigators say Maanibeh lured the mother to the market under the pretense of helping her purchase diapers. She then took advantage of the situation to flee with both the newborn and the woman’s handbag, which contained cash, a phone, and other personal items.

Following a swift probe led by ASP Stella Atukwia of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), the suspect was tracked down and arrested on August 15 at her hideout in Nuobollie, a community in the Savannah Region.

Police confirmed that the baby was safely rescued and reunited with his mother. Some of the stolen belongings were also recovered.

Maanibeh appeared before the Wa District Magistrate Court on August 18 and was remanded into custody. She is scheduled to reappear on September 2, 2025.

The Regional Command has assured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property and commended the public for the vigilance and cooperation that led to the suspect’s arrest.

Read the full statement below:

Source: Adomonline

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He reveal chilling details of how his wife faked a pregnancy and presented the stolen child as her own.

According to police sources, Rebecca, 40, informed her husband several months ago that she was four months pregnant and needed to relocate temporarily to her mother’s home in Enyan Abaasa to prepare for the birth.

She is reported to have later returned to their home in Tarkwa Benso in the Western Region with a baby girl, claiming to have delivered safely.

However, the plot began to unfold when the baby, unfamiliar with her surroundings and caregivers, reportedly cried uncontrollably for two consecutive days.

This persistent distress, coupled with inconsistencies in Rebecca’s story, triggered the husband’s suspicions.

He told police that without alerting his wife, began making quiet inquiries in her hometown.

It was during this personal investigation that he stumbled upon news reports about a baby who had recently been stolen from Ajumako Market.

Upon confirming his fears, he promptly reached out to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ajumako District Police Command and provided them with crucial information that led to Rebecca’s arrest.

Police later confirmed that the woman and baby matched those captured on CCTV.

Rebecca Ofori is currently in custody along with the baby at the Ajumako Police Command as investigations continue.

Police say they are working to reunite the child with her biological parents while psychological support is being arranged.

Her arrest follows days of intense police investigation after Adom News earlier reported on July 14, 2025, that a woman had been caught on surveillance footage carrying away a baby while her mother was selling cassava at the market.

The suspect presented herself as a caring customer, offering to assist in caring for the baby while the mother attended to others.

She then sneaked out of the market together with the baby.

The widely circulated CCTV footage helped investigators identify the suspect, leading to a coordinated operation that tracked her down to Tarkwa Benso.

According to reports, her husband contacted the police after suspecting the baby was not biologically theirs due to her constant cries. The couple had been living separately until recently.

Police sources confirm that both the suspect and the baby girl are currently in custody at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at the Ajumako District Police Command, where further investigations are underway.

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The disturbing footage, retrieved from a CCTV camera installed at the market centre, shows the woman walking away briskly with the infant after luring the baby’s caregiver into a conversation.

According to the child’s mother, Esi Sekyiwaa, she had left the baby in the care of her sister-in-law while selling cassava at the market.

The suspect reportedly approached the caregiver under the pretense of offering help, but took advantage of a moment of distraction to flee with the child.

“When I returned and asked for my baby, my sister-in-law told me the woman had taken her. We were shocked,” the distraught mother told Adom News, breaking down in tears.

Upon reviewing the CCTV footage, family members confirmed that the woman was seen leaving the market with the baby.

They suspect the woman may have come from Winneba, Apam, or Mankessim and have called on the police and the general public to help locate her and rescue the child.

The Ajumako police are appealing to anyone with relevant information to report to the nearest police station to assist with investigations.

Watch video below:

The suspect, identified as Khadija Aliyu, was apprehended after she reportedly snuck away with the infant while the event was in progress.

According to a statement from the police spokesperson, Aliyu, who had been pretending to be pregnant, attended the ceremony.

During the event, she entered the house where the baby was sleeping, carried the child on her back, and concealed the infant under a veil before fleeing the scene.

Thanks to swift action by the police, Aliyu was arrested later that evening.

The stolen baby was safely recovered, and the suspect is now in police custody as investigations continue.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The suspect, Emelia Yendulom reportedly tricked the grandmother into handing over the baby, claiming the mother needed to breastfeed him.

This unfortunate incident occurred during a naming ceremony in church on Sunday March 24, 2024.

Emelia was said to have disappeared with the baby leaving the parents in despair.

It later emerged that, the suspect had taken the child to her family house in Agogo Zongo, claiming to be the mother.

The family members became suspicious because Emilia has a history of mental health problems and is receiving treatment at a prayer camp in Ananekrom.

The concerned family members then rushed to confirm from the Prayer Camp at Ananekrom to make sure Emilia was telling the truth.

They found out she was lying, so they quickly took Emilia and the baby to the police station where she was arrested.

The mother, who had already filed a complaint at the police station, was called to verify if the child belonged to her, and indeed, it was confirmed.

The police said Emelia is a chronic baby thief but are unable to convict her due to her mental health condition.

Meanwhile, the suspect and grandmother of the baby are assisting police with investigation.

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Earlier reports on Sunday, December 17 was that, the man believed to be in his early twenties was nabbed red-handed while stealing a baby from one of the wards.

However, the hospital’s management has refuted the report, clarifying that he stole a phone at the HDU on-call room.

The statement further stated that the thief, who posed as a cleaner to gain access to the room, took the phone which was left on charge.

He was discovered by the phone’s owner, a nurse, who caught him while attempting to switch it off.

The nurse raised an alarm at the nurses’ station, and with the assistance of hospital security, the thief was apprehended.

The thief confessed to the crime.

The hospital management commends the vigilance of the nurses and the swift response of the security team.

This incident, they said, should serve as a stern warning to potential thieves.

Management emphasizes that the hospital is continuously monitored by 24-hour CCTV surveillance, and have implemented increased security measures.

Anyone caught engaging in unlawful activities will be subject to the full rigors of the law.

The suspect reportedly stole the baby on Saturday morning and went into hiding.

She was however arrested on Monday after an intensive search.

Information gathered by Adom News indicates that ,the suspect and the baby’s aunty are co-tenants.

In an interview, the baby’s aunty, Millicent Arthur, narrated her sister lives at Mankesim but came to visit her husband at Kasoa American Down on Friday.

Millicent said on Saturday morning, her sister was going to use the toilet and gave her child to the suspect’s little sister to look after her.

The suspect showed up and asked to hold the baby, claiming she wanted to buy biscuit for her but never returned.

A compliant was filed at the Kasoa Divisional Police Command on Saturday leading to her arrest on Monday.

The suspect was apprehended at Kasoa Ofaakor by some residents and family members of the victim who identified her and handed over to the police.

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An Accra Circuit Court, on Tuesday, remanded the four into the custody of the NIB.

The accused persons are Cynthia Beyeden, a 63-year-old Retired Midwife/ Nurse, Sylvester Quashie Nyamekeh, a mason, Ediemu Bozoma, a 55-year-old trader, Cynthia Quashie, private security and one Mr Quashie now at large.

Beyeden is facing two counts of child stealing.

They have been variously held over abetment and hindrance to the inquest. They have all pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Simon Apiosornu, who held brief, prayed the court to remand the accused persons into custody pending further investigations.

Chief Inspector Apiosornu said the Police have received tip-offs, which will lead to the arrest of some more persons and vehemently opposed the grant of bail, saying it was premature.

The prosecution said one of the babies found was still on admission at the Police Hospital and that the accused persons could interfere with investigations.

Yaw Dankwah, who represented Nyamekeh, Bozoma and Cynthia Quashie, prayed for bail for his clients, saying they were not flight risk.

Mr Dankwah said remanding the accused persons was not founded in law, assuring that they would not interfere with investigations.

He said the accused persons had been in the custody of NIB for one month and that it was becoming difficult for them (counsel) to get access to their clients while in the custody of NIB.

George Asamaney, who represented Beyeden, said the accused persons could be granted bail while investigations went on.

Mr Asamaney said his client had grown lean in the NIB custody and pleaded for them to be kept in the custody of the Police.

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The Court, presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah, said considering the fact that one of the children had died and the fact that another child was on admission, it could not grant the accused persons bail.

The Court, therefore, remanded them into the custody of the NIB to reappear on November 10.

It further directed the NIB to offer the accused persons access to their lawyers.

Narrating the facts, Chief Inspector Apiorsornu, said NIB, acting on intelligence, arrested suspects Cynthia Beyejen, Ediemu Bozoma, Cynthia Quarshie and Sylvester Quarsive Nyamekeh in the Western Region.

The prosecution said Sylvester Quarshie Nyamekeh, was arrested after he tried to offer a seven-month baby boy for sale at GH¢80,000.00 at Atuabo to undercover NIB personnel.

He said the Bureau’s Agent feigned interest in buying the said victim and arrested him.

The prosecution said Sylvester did all the negotiation on phone with the Agent and even sent recorded video of the late Victim, Nhyira, a 10-day-old baby girl to show that he was into the business of baby selling.

Sylvester mentioned Beyejen, a retired midwife as his source, it said.

The prosecution said investigations revealed that Bozoma and Cynthia Quarshie had been assisting Sylvester Quarshie Nyamekeh.

It said Bozoma and Cynthia Quashie had been keeping and taking care of the victims in their houses and later given to Sylvester Quarshie Nyamekeh for ‘disposal’.

According to the prosecutor, it was also established that the late victim Nhyira was with Ediemu Bozoma, Cynthia Quarshie, and one Mr Quarshie now at large and that they claimed the victim, Nhyira, died while with them at home.

It said Bozoma, had informed Cynthia Beyejen of the death of Nhyira and Beyejen ordered Bozoma, Cynthia Quarshie, and Mr Quashie, now at large to bury Nhyira without reporting to any authority.

Paulina and her four accomplices are in court for allegedly stealing twin babies.

Their identities have been revealed as Stephen Owusu, 32, Sampson Addai, 33, Haruna Yusif, 36, and 24-year-old Kofi Nkrumah.

According to the Sefwi Wiaso Police command, the suspects failed their bail conditions granted on March 13, citing Paulina’s pregnancy as an excuse.

However, her actions are said to have raised suspicion, hence upon intelligence, the Police command began secret investigations to ascertain if she was indeed an expectant mother.

Sefwi Wiawso police commander, DSP Christopher Darkey, told Adom News that they became suspicious of Paulina since her pregnancy looked the same three months after she first appeared before the court.

Two female police officers were tasked to inspect the pregnancy, which led to the discovery that Paulina was not pregnant after all.

She had inserted heaps of foam and rags into her undergarments to fake pregnancy.

The baby, identified as Rose Cobbina, was stolen from her mother at New Takoradi in the Western region.

Divisional crime officer of the Takoradi central police station, Saviour Ahiamadi, briefing the press, explained a frantic search led to the arrest of the culprit.

He further explained the mother of the toddler left the baby in the care of her neighbour to take a quick shower.

Upon her return, she realised the neighbour and her baby were nowhere to be found and a report was quickly made at the police station.

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The suspect was later arrested in a hideout at Esiama in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region upon a search by the police.

Adding his voice, Assembly member for lower New Takoradi electoral area advised residents to be wary of persons living close to them, especially those they have no relations with.

Speaking to the Media, Chief Inspector Philip Arthur, Station Officer of the Swedru Divisional DOVVSU, said Gordor who hails from Dwenase, a village near New Edubiase in Ashanti Region, was recently released from Nsawam Prisons after a one year jail term for the same offence, which she committed at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region.

According to Chief Inspector Arthur, a friend Gordor met at the Prison had given testimonies about one Reverend James Ayensu, Founder and Leader of Salvation House Prayer Chapel at Agona Swedru.

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Gordor, therefore, went searching for the Pastor on Saturday, June 8, 2019 and located him at Swedru where she was offered accommodation after introducing herself as a native of Akim Otwereso where Pastor Ayensu also hails from.

Chief Inspector Arthur said on Sunday, June 9, the suspect dressed up and went to church with Pastor Ayensu, his wife and two children.

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According to Chief Inspector Arthur, the suspect requested to send the children home after Church service whiles the pastor’s wife also went to the market to buy some items.

The Station Officer said the pastor and wife arrived home only to realise that Gordor had left with the children, a girl aged seven and the nine months old baby under the pretext of going to buy food.

He said the couple searched the vicinity to no avail and rushed to Akim Oda lorry station only to find their daughter unaccompanied.

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Pastor Ayensu then made contacts at Tema and Ashiaman and had a hint that Gordor had just been released from Nsawam prison on the same offence and he reported the matter to Swedru Divisional DOVSSU.

He said investigations led to the arrest of Gordor at Dwenase near New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region.

Source: GNA