A toddler was reportedly missing from the children’s department of a Catholic church in Bayelsa state.
The state police command while confirming the incident said an investigation into the disappearance is ongoing and that efforts are being made to rescue the child and apprehend those responsible.
“The development comes nearly three months after the child reportedly disappeared from the church’s children’s department on June 21, 2026”.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bayelsa State Command, DSP Musa Mohammed, confirmed that the incident was formally reported to the police.
“I have confirmed that the matter is true. It was truly reported and the police is on it,” Mohammed said.
When asked whether the police had located the current whereabouts of the missing toddler, the PPRO declined to disclose details, citing the ongoing investigation.
“You know if a matter is under investigation, the police is not allowed to release all information to the public that might jeopardize our work,” he said.
“But what I can assure you is that we are working tirelessly to rescue the toddler and to arrest and possibly arraign the suspects behind this.”
According to report,the child, who is under two years old, disappeared after her parents took her to church and handed her over to the children’s department during a service.
According to the child’s father, Festus, the toddler was handed over to a teacher in the children’s department.
He said the family returned after the church service to collect their daughter but were allegedly told that she could not be found.
The distraught father said the teacher initially confirmed that the child had been handed over to him but could not account for her whereabouts.
“We carried our child to the church. We took the child to the children’s department class and handed her over to the children’s department class teacher,” Festus said.
“After the church was dismissed, we went to collect our child from the teacher. The teacher tried to say that they could not see our child.”
Festus said the child’s mother repeatedly demanded to know where their daughter was, while the priest also intervened and asked who the child had been entrusted to.
The family subsequently reported the matter at a police station, where, according to Festus, some individuals connected to the incident were taken in for questioning before being released.
“They collected their phones and did their findings. From there, we went out,” he said.
The father also said the family petitioned authorities in Abuja and sought the intervention of senior police authorities over the matter.
“We wrote a petition to Abuja. They transferred the matter to the IG,” he said.
Festus further appealed to Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu and social media personalities, including Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to help locate his daughter.
“I am begging Nigeria. I am begging everybody to help me in this matter because I am confused now,” he said.
“I am looking for my child. Since three months now, my child has been missing. Nowhere to find my child.”
He also expressed frustration over the family’s inability to secure sufficient assistance in their search for the child.
“I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I’m still looking for my child. Please, I’m begging you. Please come and help us.”
The latest confirmation by the Bayelsa police indicates that the disappearance is now being actively investigated, with the command saying its priority is to rescue the toddler and bring those responsible to justice.
The police have, however, not disclosed whether any suspect has been arrested or whether the child’s whereabouts have been established.