Leritshimwa Diyal, the 32-year-old woman, who has confessed to stealing a three-day-old baby in Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos has said the desire to have a child, who would call her mother, pushed her into committing the crime.
Mrs Diyal, a student of College of Health Technology, Zawan, in Plateau, made the confession while speaking with journalists when she was paraded by the Plateau Police Command on Thursday in Jos.
The baby belonging to one Mary Chukwuebuka of Zaramangada area of Jos, was stolen three days after she put to bed at the hospital.
When the matter was reported to the headquarters of the Plateau Police Command in Jos, it immediately commenced investigation which led to the arrest of the suspect.
Before her arrest, Mrs Diyal had claimed that she gave birth at a kidnappers’ den.
She also claimed that she registered for antenatal care at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
“I have been married for over seven years without a child; the desire to have one pushed me into stealing another woman’s child.
“My husband and I have sought for medical attention to ascertain the reason for our childlessness, but to no avail.
He explained that Mrs Diyal perfected her plans and leveraged on her deep knowledge of the terrain of the hospital, where she once undertook her industrial attachment, to steal the baby.
Mr Akinmoyede said she had faked her kidnap story thinking it would give her a strong alibi to have the baby, but that when she was confronted with realities, she confessed to stealing the baby.
“Currently, the command is investigating her claim that she committed the crime alone,” Mr Akinmoyede said, stressing that the case would be charged to court immediately the investigation was concluded.
