Minister of health
By Emma Black
Authorities in Port Loko have successfully recovered a six-day-old baby boy who was reported missing from the Government Hospital’s Maternity Ward, following swift investigations and the arrest of a prime suspect.
The incident, which shocked the local community, occurred on the morning of Monday, April 21, 2025. Zainab Bangura, a mother from Kombra Bai village in Kasseh Chiefdom, Port Loko District, had given birth to twins a boy and a girl via cesarean section. Around 6:00 AM on the sixth day of their stay in the hospital, Zainab briefly left her babies in the care of her own mother to use the restroom. Her mother, unable to carry heavy items, also stepped out momentarily to fetch water for her daughter. Upon returning, both women were horrified to discover that the baby boy had vanished without a trace.
The matter was immediately reported to the Regional Headquarters (RHQ) Office North West, prompting a rapid response from law enforcement officers. During their initial assessment at the hospital, police discovered a button phone at the scene, which became a key piece of evidence in tracking down the suspect.
Early in the investigation, suspicion initially fell on two individuals Zainab Bangura (the child’s mother) and another woman named Zainab Kamara. However, with the support of the Cyber Unit, investigators were able to uncover the following:
The phone left at the crime scene was traced to Zainab Kamara, a second-year student at ABAKO College in Port Loko, Kamara was arrested in possession of the missing child within Port Loko City, During questioning, she confessed to stealing the baby from the Maternity Ward.
She admitted that she acted alone and was not assisted by anyone in the abduction, Kamara’s earlier claims that the baby was her biological child were debunked, as she failed to provide any antenatal records or an under-five clinic card from any of the Primary Health Units (PHUs) she had mentioned.
The biological mother, Zainab Bangura, confirmed her son’s identity by describing a distinct mark under his ear a feature present on both twins.
Following confirmation of the baby’s recovery, the police convened a stakeholders’ briefing to share details of the breakthrough. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Port Loko District Council, the Deputy Mayor of the Port Loko City Council, civil society organizations, human rights activists, and members of the media.
Commendations poured in for the Sierra Leone Police, especially the investigative and cyber units, for their professionalism, speed, and effectiveness in resolving the case and reuniting the child with his rightful family, the event concluded peacefully, with stakeholders expressing gratitude and urging continued vigilance to prevent such incidents in the future.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 21st, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
