Police arrest fake pastor and accomplice for kidnapping a baby

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a fake pastor and a woman for kidnapping a four-week-old baby in Minna.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, the command’s Public Relations Officer, shared this news in a statement on Saturday in Minna.

Abiodun said they received a report at the ‘A’ Division in Minna on July 14 around 10am. The report stated that a four-week-old baby had been wrongly taken from its mother near the Mobil Roundabout.

He explained that police detectives quickly started an investigation and used technical intelligence. This led to the arrest of Chidi Johnson, also known as "Yaron Pastor," 24, from Abdulsalam Quarters, Minna.

"After the report came in, detectives from the division began their investigation and used technical intelligence, which led to the arrest of Chidi Johnson, aka 'Yaron Pastor', 24, of Abdulsalam Quarters.

"During the investigation, he admitted that Zainab Ibrahim, 22, from Alagbado Area in Minna, but living in Sokoto State, had hired him to get a newborn baby after her miscarriage," he said.

According to Abiodun, Johnson tricked a nursing mother and her four-week-old baby into going to the Kasuwan-Gwari area on July 13 at about 12 p.m.

"Johnson said he did this under the guise that a benefactor would give the mother food items and alms.

"When they got there, Zainab told the victim and her friend to call Johnson, who then met them and took the mother into an unfinished building near the Mobil Roundabout.

"Once inside the building, Johnson offered snacks and drinks to gain their trust while pretending to play with the baby.

"Sadly, while playing with the baby, he escaped with the child through a back exit of the building on a motorcycle to an unknown place," he added.

Abiodun confirmed that Ibrahim was also arrested, and the baby was found and returned to her mother.

"The suspects are now in custody for further investigation, and they will be taken to court for prosecution," he said.