The Ondo State Police Command has announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with separate cases of maternal and infant deaths reported under suspicious circumstances in Akure and Emure-Ile in Ondo State.
The announcement was made known on Sunday in a statement issued on April 19, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.
According the press statement, the first incident occurred on April 16, 2026, when a resident, Remilekun, informed the police that her brother, Mr. Bawa Lawal, had received alarming news regarding the death of his wife, Mrs. Bawa Blessing. She had gone into labour at a private residence in the Gloryland area, off Ado Road, Akure, owned by Elizabeth Aremu, who allegedly posed as a midwife. Unfortunately, complications arose shortly after delivery, resulting in her death before she could be taken to a medical facility.
During the investigation, detectives discovered the lifeless body of a newborn infant wrapped in a sack at the scene. Elizabeth Aremu has since been arrested.
In a separate case on April 11, 2026, Augustine Kufre reported that his girlfriend, Genifer Sunday, aged 20, was taken to a church in Emure-Ile due to labour pains. The prophetess of the church, Blessing Efiong, allegedly oversaw the delivery. Tragically, the newborn infant died at the scene, and the mother later passed away while being transported to the hospital due to complications. Blessing Efiong has also been arrested in connection with this incident.
The Ondo State Police Command is conducting thorough investigations into these incidents, assuring the public that those found culpable will face justice. The remains of the deceased mothers and their infants have been moved to the State Specialist Hospital in Akure and the Federal Medical Centre morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Authorities have urged community members to seek medical assistance from qualified and licensed healthcare providers, particularly during critical situations such as childbirth, to avoid unregulated facilities and individuals posing as medical practitioners.
The State Police Command said it remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and taking decisive action against all forms of criminality in the state.
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