An Enugu Magistrate Court has sentenced 23-year Rejoice Odoh to three years In prison for stealing a four-month-old baby boy at Oye-Emene Market in Emene, Enugu State.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Command said Odoh was convicted of conspiracy and child stealing after pleading guilty to the offences.
The police said the incident occurred on October 20, 2026, at about 9:a.m, when the suspect allegedly took the baby under the guise of helping his mother carry him while she went to purchase an item from a nearby shop.
“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”, the statement said.
According to the Command, the suspect subsequently switched off her phone and allegedly conspired with her younger sister, who is currently at large, to present the baby to their family members in Ubahu, Nkanu East Local Government Area, as her own child.
The police rescued the baby on October 24 and reunited him with his parents. Odoh pleaded guilty and was convicted on October 29, with the court ordering her three-year sentences for conspiracy and child stealing to run concurrently.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the officers and other individuals involved in the arrest, recovery of the child and prosecution of the case.
The Commissioner of Police also appreciated the court for what the Command described as expeditious dispensation of justice.
He urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and prioritise their children’s safety and avoid leaving children in the care of untrusted persons and to promptly report-child incidents to the police.
-9News Nigeria.
