A 23-year-old woman, Chinenye Odoh, has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing a four-month-old baby in Enugu State. According to reports, the incident occurred on October 20, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m. The suspect approached the baby's mother, offering to help carry the child while the mother went to buy something from a nearby shop. Instead of waiting, Odoh allegedly disappeared with the baby.
The Enugu State Police Command reported that investigations showed the suspect switched off her phone after taking the child and worked together with her younger sister, who is still on the run. Both sisters allegedly presented the baby to family members in Ubahu, Nkanu East Local Government Area, claiming the child belonged to Odoh. The police received a report and swung into action, tracking down the suspect.
Detectives from the State Intelligence Department, alongside officers from the Amechi-Idodo Police Division and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, tracked down the suspect. The missing baby was eventually found at Idume, Amankanu in Nkanu East LGA on October 24, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m., just four days after he was taken. Thankfully, the child was rescued safely and reunited with his parents.
The Enugu Magistrate Court convicted Odoh after she pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and child stealing, bringing to an end a case that shocked many residents in the state. The suspect was prosecuted by a police prosecutor from the Legal Section. Odoh was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for conspiracy and another three years for child stealing, with both sentences to run concurrently.
This means she will spend a total of three years behind bars, not six, because both jail terms will run at the same time. The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, praised the officers involved in the investigation, members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, and the prosecuting team for ensuring the suspect was arrested, the baby recovered, and the case successfully prosecuted.
Giwa also commended the court for the speedy dispensation of justice. He 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. The case serves as another reminder for parents to be extremely careful when strangers offer to help carry or look after their children.
The incident highlights the need for parents to be cautious and ensure their children's safety. The police and other stakeholders must continue to work together to prevent such incidents and bring perpetrators to justice. The sentence handed down to Odoh demonstrates the consequences of such actions and serves as a deterrent to others who may consider engaging in similar behaviour.
Key points
- A 23-year-old woman, Chinenye Odoh, has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing a four-month-old baby in Enugu State, Nigeria.
- The suspect, Odoh, allegedly tricked the baby's mother by offering to help carry the child before disappearing with him.
- The baby was rescued safely four days after the incident and reunited with his parents, while Odoh's younger sister remains at large.
