Two-Month Old Baby Stolen at a Market in Kano on Christmas Eve

Christmas in most societies around the world is a time spent with family, a time of joy, a time of laughter. Sadly, it turned sour for a couple in Kano State when their two month old baby was stolen on Christmas eve.

Sun News reported yesterday that the baby boy was stolen from his mother by a strange woman at the Mohammadu Abubakar Rimi Market in the state capital.

The father of the baby said that his wife, Amarachi Ufondu was plaiting the hair of another woman in the evening of Monday 24th December 2012. He gave the name of his missing son as Somtochukwu Favour Ufondu, saying he was just two months and two days old when he was stolen.

Here are some excerpts of the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the baby explained by the father, Ikechukwu Ufondu.

“My wife told me that she was plaiting the hair of a customer, while her neighbour was fixing the nails of another woman nearby.

“When the baby started crying, she untied her from her back and breastfed her. After breastfeeding the baby, just as she was about to return the boy to her back, the woman whose nailed was being fixed counseled against that, on the grounds that it was wrong to immediately back a baby that had just been fed.” He added that following this suggestion, “the lady then offered to help carry the baby saying that my wife was busy with the hair she was plaiting, a suggestion my wife bought without suspicion, even though she admitted she did not know the said lady.

“When they finished fixing the lady’s nails, she paid and received her change. My wife then asked her to return the baby, but she replied that she was not done with her nails yet. A few minutes after, she played a trick on my wife by sending her on a false errand. “The lady asked my wife to take a serious look at the hairstyle that was being made for another woman just a stone throw away, promising that she would want the same hairstyle as soon as she returned from the Christmas trip.

“That was all. My wife, unsuspicious of any ill motive, fell for the dummy by stepping across to take an intent look at the hairstyle that was being done by her colleague. By the time she turned, the purported Good Samaritan had disappeared into the crowd in the market,” the father said.

Mr Ufondu said he initially refused his wife entry into the house, out of anger, insisting that she should go and get their baby, but later calmed down. He said that the case has been reported to the police station and appealed to the commssioner of police to help arrest the woman who stole their baby.

It’s hard to imagine how sad this couple must feel after this unfortunate occurrence. We pray that their baby is found and returned to them in good health.

This also serves as a reminder for everyone to be extra vigilant especially during this festive period.