Cosmas Chukwu
Enugu State Police Command has secured the conviction of 23-year-old woman, Rejoice Odoh, for conspiracy and child stealing.
The Enugu Magistrate Court sentenced her to two concurrent three-year prison terms for stealing a four-month-old baby boy at Oye-Emene Market, Emene, Enugu, on 20th October 2026, at about 9:00 a.m.
Police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a release on Thursday, stated that investigation revealed that the suspect, who had previously posed as a customer to the child’s mother, took the baby under the guise of helping to carry him while going to buy an item from a nearby shop, but absconded with him. She later switched off her phone and conspired with her younger sister, who is currently at large, to present the baby to their family members at Ubahu, Nkanu East LGA, as her own child.
“Acting on the report and technical intelligence gathered, detectives of the Command’s State Intelligence Department, working with personnel of Amechi-Idodo Police Division and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested the suspect and recovered the baby at Idume, Amankanu, Nkanu East LGA, on 24th October 2026, at about 10:30 p.m. The child was subsequently reunited with his parents.
“Upon conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was arraigned before the Enugu Magistrate Court and prosecuted by a police prosecutor from the legal section.
“Having pleaded guilty, she was convicted on 29th October 2026, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and another three years for child stealing, with both sentences to run concurrently,” Ndukwe disclosed.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the police personnel, members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, and the prosecuting team for their roles in the suspect’s arrest, recovery of the child, and securing of the conviction.
The CP, Ndukwe further disclosed, also appreciated the court for the expeditious dispensation of justice and urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant, prioritise their children’s safety, avoid leaving them in the care of untrusted persons, and promptly report missing-child incidents to the police.
