Yaounde: Ecstasy in Ekoundoum Baptist Hospital as missing baby found.

The baby, who was three days old, before being declared missing, is reported to have been found in the Nkoabang neighbourhood in Yaounde yesterday. 

In a now viral video on social media, a huge crowd is seen rushing towards a gendarmerie pick up vehicle that stationed in front of the hospital, with the newborn on.

Songs of praise were showered on God Almighty for his guidance and for making the newborn reunite with the mother. 

Reports say security officers brought in the newborn, in the company of a woman who is suspected to have stolen the baby from the health facility.

According to one of the security officers who was part of the operation that recovered the stolen baby, they were able to get the child after receiving tip-off from the local population. 

An eyewitness, whose name The Guardian Post got as Pierre, said he identified the woman who looked suspicious to him. The witness said he decided to keep an eye on her.

“I saw her go into a house and didn’t come out for hours. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now I realise that she must have been hiding the baby there,” the witness said.

Another witness in the Nkobang neighbourhood, who identified herself as Therese, admitted she also identified the suspect carrying the baby and trying to calm her down.

“I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now I realise that she must have been trying to hide the baby. I am glad that the police caught her and brought the baby back to her mother,” she said. 

Reports have confirmed that the suspect who whisked away the newborn has been placed in cutsody while the baby has been reunited with her mother.

The mother, who has not been named, had been worried since her baby was stolen from the hospital on August 3. She had been searching for her child everywhere and had appealed to the public for help.

Security forces launched an investigation and followed up on several leads before finally tracking down the thief to a house in Yaoundé. The thief, whose identity has not been released, will face charges for stealing the baby.

Speaking shortly after the baby was found, the mother of the baby was full of joy. She said: "I was devastated when I found out that my baby was stolen from the hospital. I had been worried and sick for three days, not knowing if I would ever see my child again. I am so grateful to the police for finding my baby and bringing her back to me".

One of the hospital staff, Dr James Ekoudoum, was elated that the child had been found, adding that they spent sleepless nights after the child was stolen. He also recounted the circumstances leading to the disappearance of the child. 

« I was on duty when the baby was stolen. I saw the thief, a woman, walking around the hospital pretending to be a nurse. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now I realize that she must have been planning to steal the baby. I feel terrible that we didn’t catch her sooner," Dr Ekoundoum said.

By Bernis Mfomo (Journalism student on internship)

This story was first Published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3192 of Wednesday August 07, 2024