The Edo State Police Command has arrested some staff members of a private hospital in the state over the alleged disappearance of a newborn baby at the health facility.
DAILY POST reports that the Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the development in Benin City, said the arrests were made to enable operatives investigate the incident.
Ikoedem said the arrested staff members are assisting the police in the investigation.
According to her, some staff members of the health facility had been taken into custody and were assisting investigators.
“Commissioner of Police in the state, Monday Agbonika, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Police Headquarters for a comprehensive investigation.
“He has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter, and some health workers are currently assisting the police with ongoing inquiries,” she said.
DAILY POST gathered that the hospital is located on Omouwadiae Street, off Upper Sakponba Road, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
It was also gathered that the incident allegedly occurred after the baby’s mother reportedly fell into a postpartum coma shortly after successfully delivering the baby.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said confusion began when the woman regained consciousness and requested to see her baby.
The source said the health workers on duty allegedly failed to produce the newborn.
He added that the mother immediately raised the alarm after being informed that the child could not be accounted for.
“The woman demanded to see her baby after regaining consciousness, but the health workers could not produce the child.
“The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the commencement of investigations into the circumstances surrounding the baby’s disappearance,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director, identified simply as Okungbowa, and a matron of the hospital who was reportedly on duty when the incident occurred could not be reached following the police complaint.
All efforts to obtain comments from the management of the medical facility were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Don’t Miss
One dead, several trapped as four-storey building collapses in Port Harcourt
