The Police have arrested a 37-year-old woman identified as Anurika Nweme over allegations of false declaration and baby theft in Anambra State.
The security agency held that Nwene falsely self proclaiming herself as a nurse to gain access to a hospital’s maternity ward and allegedly stole the baby and is on prosecution for theft and child trafficking.
The accused, in a hospital in Obosi, was said to have been by police officers attached to the Awards Divisional Headquarters after committing the offence, posing as a staff of the Divine Mercy Hospital, but was later discovered not to be an employee despite allegedly claiming to work at the facility when questioned about her presence in the maternity ward.
The incident which occurred on June 23, 2026, at Divine Mercy Hospital located along Eze Iweka Road in Awada, Obosi.
According to eyewitness accounts, Nweme allegedly gained access to the hospital premises dressed in attire resembling that of a nurse, enabling her to move around the facility without immediately attracting suspicion.
Witnesses said the suspect was later observed making covert video recordings of newborn babies in the maternity ward, raising concerns among hospital staff and visitors.
Her actions reportedly prompted inquiries from personnel within the facility, who sought to ascertain her identity and purpose in the ward.
When confronted, the woman allegedly claimed to be a staff member of the hospital. However, further verification by the hospital’s management revealed that she was not employed by the facility, a discovery that heightened suspicions and sparked outrage among those present.
The development reportedly led to a confrontation that attracted a crowd, with some individuals attempting to take matters into their own hands before police officers intervened and rescued the suspect from possible mob action.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect is currently in protective custody while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding her actions.
Ikenga disclosed that detectives have commenced a full-scale investigation to determine the motive behind the suspect’s presence in the maternity ward and to establish whether she was acting alone or as part of a wider network involved in child trafficking or related criminal activities.
He added that the suspect is cooperating with investigators and assisting police efforts to identify and apprehend other individuals who may be connected to the case.
The police spokesperson assured members of the public that the command remains committed to protecting children and safeguarding healthcare facilities across the state, adding that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.
The command also urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, while encouraging anyone with useful information that could aid the investigation to come forward and assist the police.