How community intelligence led Zamfara Police to recover stolen infant

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

A strategic partnership between law enforcement and local communities has led to the successful rescue of a 10-day-old baby stolen from the Kaura Namoda General Hospital in Zamfara State.
​The breakthrough, which also resulted in the arrest of a 27-year-old female suspect identified as Asmau Nasiru, has blown the lid off a wider suspected criminal syndicate involved in child theft, human trafficking, and “baby factory” operations within the state.
​The incident began on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, when the Zamfara State Ministry of Health raised the alarm over the disappearance of the newborn.
An unidentified woman wearing a face mask had gained access to the hospital ward and absconded with the infant.
​Following a formal complaint lodged at the Kaura Namoda Police Division, detectives launched an intensive investigation.
To determine potential internal lapses or complicity, police investigators immediately detained and questioned hospital staff who were on duty during the security breach.
​The breakthrough came three days later, leveraging actionable intelligence from local residents.
Armed with tips obtained through community policing channels, tactical operatives tracked the suspect to Kogin Audu, a hamlet on the outskirts of Kaura Namoda.
​The missing infant was recovered unharmed and has since been officially reunited with the biological parents.
​Confirming the operation, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, stated that the arrested suspect is currently in custody undergoing interrogation to unmask other members of the trafficking network.
Reacting to the development, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Muhammad Bello, commended the public for their timely information and reiterated the command’s commitment to aggressively combating organized crime and child trafficking rings across the state.