A 23-year-old woman, Rejoice Odoh, has been sentenced to a total of six years in prison by the Enugu State Magistrate Court for the theft of a four-month-old baby boy. The incident occurred on October 20, 2026, at Oye-Emene Market, where Odoh lured the child's mother under the pretense of helping her carry the baby while she shopped.

According to police investigations, Odoh had previously posed as a customer to gain the mother’s trust. After taking the baby, she switched off her phone and conspired with her younger sister, who remains at large, to present the child as her own to their family in Ubahu, Nkanu East Local Government Area.

The police were alerted to the situation and, utilizing technical intelligence, detectives from the State Intelligence Department, along with personnel from the Amechi-Idodo Police Division and local Neighbourhood Watch Group members, launched an operation to locate the missing child. Their efforts paid off when they successfully recovered the baby on October 24, 2026, in Idume, Amankanu, Nkanu East LGA, around 10:30 p.m.

Following the recovery, the child was reunited with his parents, and Odoh was subsequently arraigned in court. She pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy and child theft. On October 29, 2026, the court sentenced her to three years for each charge, with the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in a total of three years in prison.

This case highlights the ongoing issue of child theft in Nigeria, prompting calls for increased vigilance and community awareness to protect vulnerable families. The swift action of law enforcement and community members in this instance has been praised as a crucial step in addressing such crimes.