Authorities apprehend pair in connection with infant's murder in Yobe

The Yobe State Police Command has apprehended two individuals in connection with the alleged murder of a newborn baby girl, whose remains were found hidden in a box and abandoned behind a mosque in Damaturu, the state capital.

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A statement issued by the command's spokesperson, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, on Tuesday, revealed that the arrests were made following a swift investigation into the incident.

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According to Abdulkarim, operatives from the Violent Crime Response Unit responded to a distress call on June 23, 2026, regarding the alleged killing of the infant in Anguwar Boka area of Damaturu.

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Preliminary investigations suggest that a woman who had recently given birth to the child was involved in circumstances that led to the baby's death, with initial findings indicating that the newborn was allegedly strangled.

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The baby's remains were then concealed in a box and dumped behind a mosque in the area, as stated by Abdulkarim, who noted that the police intervention led to the arrest of two suspects currently assisting with the investigation.

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The police spokesman confirmed that the two suspects are in custody and are helping investigators to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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The case remains under investigation, with Abdulkarim assuring residents that the command is committed to gathering all relevant facts to ensure justice is served.

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The state Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, has condemned the alleged killing, describing it as a "heinous and inhuman act" that will not be tolerated by the command.

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Jibrin warned that anyone found culpable will face prosecution in accordance with the law, emphasizing that every human life is precious and must be protected.

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The police chief reiterated the rights of every child to protection, care, and dignity, stressing that violators of these rights will be held accountable and face the full weight of the law.

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In a separate incident, the Edo State Police Command arrested four suspects and killed one in connection with a kidnapping incident at the Vegetable Market in Benin on June 14, 2026.

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The state Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, disclosed that three suspects were arrested on June 20, in addition to the one earlier apprehended, bringing the total number of arrests to four, while one suspect was killed.