Upper West Police Arrest Woman for Abducting One-Week-Old Baby at Wa Market

The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old woman, Abena Martha Maanibeh, for allegedly abducting a one-week-old baby and stealing valuables belonging to the child’s mother at the Wa market.

According to police reports, the incident occurred on August 10, 2025, when the suspect, posing as a hospital caretaker, tricked the baby’s mother, Ms. Kwofie Mwinbelle, into leaving briefly to buy diapers. Taking advantage of the moment, Maanibeh fled with the infant and a handbag containing cash, a mobile phone, and other personal belongings.

Swift investigations, led by ASP Stella Atukwia, Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), traced the suspect to her hideout at Nuobollie in the Savannah Region. She was arrested on August 15, 2025, and the baby was rescued unharmed. The child has since been reunited with the mother, while some of the stolen items were also retrieved.

Maanibeh was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court on August 18, 2025, where she was remanded into police custody. She is expected to reappear in court on September 2, 2025.