Lagos police dismiss Inspector for stealing day-old baby

The Lagos State Police Command has approved the dismissal of Inspector Samuel Ukpabio over alleged baby theft.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, announced the dismissal via a statement on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

It would be recalled that a 35-year-old woman, Fortune Obhafuoso, accused Ukpabio, who was attached to Panti Division, of conniving with others to steal her day-old baby.

The single mother of three claimed that Ukpabio arrested her, accused her of attempting to sell the baby for N3 million, and forced her to write a statement to that effect.

Obhafuoso, who claimed that she gave birth on December 22, 2022, said the following day, Ukpabio forcefully took away the baby and gave him to an unidentified woman.

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She disclosed that she was given N185,000 and threatened by Ukpabio never to return for the child or he will arrest her and take the remaining two children from her.

She eventually reported the matter to a rights activist, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the Founding Director, Women Advocates, Research and Documentation Centre, who petitioned security agents to wade into the issue.

Hundeyin, however, stated: “The recommendation for the dismissal of Inspector Samuel Ukpabio has been approved.

“This automatically paves way for his prosecution.

“The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, assures Lagosians of his unwavering determination to police the state within the dictates of rule of law, civility and respect for human life.”

The Star