The police in Ondo State have arrested a nurse, health assistant, and security guard at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Emure-IIe, Owo Local Government Area, over the mysterious disappearance of a baby’s placenta.

The police command’s public relations officer, SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, made this known while speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Akure.

Ms Odunlami-Omisanya explained that the persons were arrested after the 23-year-old father of the newborn baby, Tunde Ijanusi, complained about the incident at the Emure-Ile Police Division H.

The police spokesperson said the 19-year-old nursing mother gave birth to a baby girl on June 15 at the health centre, and when the father of the baby asked for the placenta, the nurse and her assistant could not produce it.

“So, it is a case of negligence of duty, and the nurse, health assistant, and security were invited by the police, and currently, the case is being handled at the Emure-Ile division,” Ms Odunlami-Omisanya said.

Speaking with journalists, the father of the baby, Mr Ijanusi, said he was worried after health workers who took the delivery failed to give them the placenta of the newborn in line with tradition.

Also speaking, the paternal grandmother of the baby, Funmilayo Ijanusi, said the report by the hospital officials that a dog entered the facility and stole away with the placenta was unacceptable.

She said the health centre personnel had attempted to persuade the family to let go of the matter, offering to discharge the baby’s mother without collecting any money.

“Though the joy over the newborn is tainted with sadness, the family are clinging onto hope that spirited Nigerians and government to the missing placenta and served justice on those involved,” the grandmother said.

(NAN)