A 32-year-old woman, Mrs Leritshimwa Diyal, has confessed to stealing a three-day-old baby from the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, saying her desire to have a child, who will call her mother, pushed her into committing the crime.

Diyal, a student of the College of Health Technology, Zawan, Plateau State, made the confession when she was paraded by the state police command in Jos on Thursday.

The baby, belonging to one Mrs Mary Chukwuebuka of the Zaramangada area of Jos, was stolen three days after its birth.

It was learnt that Diyal, before her arrest, had claimed that she gave birth to the baby at a kidnappers’ den.

She also claimed that she registered for antenatal at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.

She said,

“I have been married for over seven years without a child; the desire to have one pushed me into stealing another woman’s child.

“My husband and I have sought medical attention to ascertain the reason for our childlessness, but to no avail.

“I have contacted many orphanages to adopt a child, but none granted me the opportunity, that is why I resorted to stealing.”