Freetown, May 20, 2025 — Police authorities in Port Loko have successfully recovered a six-day-old infant who was stolen from the Government Hospital’s maternity ward.
The incident was reported on Monday, after the mother, Zainab Bangura of Kombra Bai village, left her newborn in the care of her mother, only for the child to go missing.
The mother had delivered twins via cesarean operations and briefly left the ward to use the restroom. Upon return, the infant was nowhere to be found, prompting immediate police investigation.
During their inquiry, officers discovered a phone linked to the suspect, which led to the arrest of Zainab Kamara, a second-year student at Abako College.
Kamara confessed to stealing the child alone, denying any external assistance, and falsely claimed to have given birth to the baby.
Further investigation revealed she had not attended any antenatal clinics or produced any medical records for the child. The mother of the stolen infant identified her son by a distinctive mark on his lower ear, confirming the child’s identity.
After thorough investigation, police confirmed the child’s safe recovery. The Police updated stakeholders—including the Port Loko District Council Chairman, the Deputy Mayor, CSOs, and human rights activists—during a press briefing, commending the Sierra Leone Police for their swift action.
SLP Media Team.
