2 nurses in police net over child theft

The police in Cross River State have arrested two nurses in Okundi, Boki LGA for allegedly stealing and selling a newly born baby.

The suspects are Helen Bankong who is the community health officer in charge of the primary health facility in Katchuan Irruan, Boki Local government and her colleague, Theresa Odu. The theft was said to have occurred at the Katchuan Irruan health facility.

Director General of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu, who confirmed the incident, said the duo delivered a baby girl at the primary health centre in Katchuan Irruan and took the baby to Idum Mbube, without the consent of the  mother.

According to sources, the nurses were reported to have drugged the young mother of the child in the labour ward. The nurses allegedly told the mother of the baby when she regained consciousness that her baby had died.

According to Mrs Florence Kekong who is from the community and a relation to the  child’s mother, the nurses ran out of luck when the family members insisted on seeing the dead baby or where it was buried.

The baby was later recovered at Idum Mbube in Ogoja LGA from a woman who bought her from the nurses.