Although the Police in Plateau State who paraded the woman on Monday alongside 25 other suspects said she was arrested, the woman who is a mother of two insisted she turned herself in having realized that leaving Jos with the baby whom she claims she “loves very much” was wrong.

According to her, “I had no bad intention when I left with the baby, the mother of the baby is my friend and I love the baby so much. I did not tell the mother because I knew she would not agree so I had to go with the baby. While in Lagos, I was always calling, chatting or doing video calls with the mother showing her how the baby was doing but because it was circulated on social media that I stole the baby, I had to go to the police in Lagos, they directed me on what to do so when I arrived Jos, the Police here pick me up at the park. I came back on my own, I was not arrested.”

The baby’s mother who was seen cuddling her baby at the State Police headquarters expressed joy that she is reunited with her baby.

She said, “We are living in the same compound and working in the same shop, She has been playing with the baby but the day she left with her, she did not inform me. When I insisted she return my baby, she said she just loved to stay with the baby. She took care of the baby but I did not permit her to go with her and I am happy to have my baby back.”

However, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Julius Okoro who paraded the suspects including an escapee from the last Jos prison break stated they allegedly committed offences ranging from the kidnap of seven students of the University of Jos, culpable homicide, defilement, criminal conspiracy, rape, receiving of stolen property, armed robbery, vandalism, possession of illicit drugs among others.

His words, “It will be recalled that on 12/06/2023 at about 10 pm, seven students of the University of Jos were kidnapped. The Command is pleased to inform you that one suspect Salisu Adamu ‘m’ 30 years, of Minta village; Bassa LGA has been arrested in connection to the kidnap. Further investigation conducted by the Commander, Anti-Kidnapping Unit revealed that the suspect is an escapee of the recent Jos Prison Jailbreak of 2020.

“The suspect confessed to the crime and mentioned some of his gang members who are currently on the run. Efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. On 09/08/2023 at about 12.30 pm, one Jumai Emmanuel ‘f’ of the Miango area of Bassa LGA chartered a driver, one Safiyanu Sulaiman ‘m’ to convey her goods from Saminaka market in Kaduna State to Jos. While they were travelling along Fuskan Mata forest, the driver pretended that the car developed a mechanical fault, but when he noticed that the passenger was calling another driver, he violently hit the victim with a log of wood on the head and she died on the spot.

“On 17/08/2023 at about 6.30 pm, the said Safiyanu Suleiman ‘m’ was traced and arrested by the DPO, Jengre Division, SP Tyem Cirdap while he was about to sell off the victim’s goods to one Sirajo Alhassan ‘m’. They were both arrested and on interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. Exhibits recovered from the suspects include the vehicle and some luggage belonging to the deceased woman. The discreet investigation is being finalized to charge the suspects to Court.”