Panic has gripped traders at the Asafo Market in Kumasi after a five-month-old baby boy was allegedly stolen by an unknown woman in the early hours of Sunday. The baby was reportedly taken from the Cape Coast Bus Terminal section at the market, specifically at the Opera Site. According to family members, the suspect, described as a dark, short woman believed to be in her late 30s, has since fled the area with the child, leaving the parents traumatised.
The baby's mother, 25-year-old Freda Owusu, is a food vendor at the market and had reported to work with the baby at dawn. She left the baby sleeping on a bedsheet in the care of her sister, who was within the same enclave running errands. The mother returned moments later to discover that both the baby and a strange woman who had been sitting close to their store were gone.
The uncle of the missing child, Osei Kuffour, recounted the events to Joy News. He explained that the mother was preparing food around 5 a.m. and left the child sleeping in front of the store. The suspect, who was sitting close to the store, was unknown among traders at the busy market and was only spotted standing close to their workplace around the time the child disappeared.
Mr Kuffour revealed that the mother of the baby and her husband, Emmanuel Acheampong, have lodged a complaint at the Asokwa Police Station. The police have launched an investigation into the matter, with efforts being made to trace and recover the child. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the baby is urged to report to the nearest police station.
The police are working to identify the suspect and determine her motives for stealing the baby. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of children at markets and other public places. The police are urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The Asafo Market is a busy and crowded area, making it challenging for the police to track down the suspect. However, the police are following up on leads and reviewing security footage to identify the suspect and locate the baby. The police are also working with market authorities to increase security measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The family of the missing child is appealing for the public's help in locating the baby. They are urging anyone with information about the suspect or the baby's whereabouts to come forward and assist the police in their investigation. The police are working to ensure the safe return of the baby to his family.
Key points
- The police have launched a manhunt for the suspect and are urging the public to report any information about the baby's whereabouts.
- The incident has raised concerns about the safety of children at markets and other public places.
- The police are working with market authorities to increase security measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
