By Davida Spaine-Solomon

Freetown, 5th January 2026-  What began as a heartbreaking case of a missing newborn at Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH – Cottage) has now evolved into an even more painful mystery, leaving at least one family shattered and the public still searching for answers.

Three months after a baby boy reportedly went missing just days after birth at the country’s leading maternity facility, government authorities confirmed that the child had been found. But rather than bringing closure, the discovery has opened a new chapter of grief, confusion, and unanswered questions, especially following DNA results that ruled out one of the families who believed the baby was theirs.

A Birth That Turned Into a Nightmare

In early June 2025, Ahmed Vambio and his wife, Katimu, arrived at PCMH after Katimu was referred from a private clinic due to complications during labour. According to Ahmed, they were asked to pay for scans and a cesarean section.

“We paid for three scans at Le 80 each and were told the operation would cost Le 2,500,” Ahmed recalled. “I only had Le 1,000, but after pleading, I paid Le 1,500 and promised to bring the balance later.”

Following surgery, the couple was told their baby boy was struggling to breathe and had been placed in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). They were asked to pay Le 150 daily for his care.

Four days later, the baby was nowhere to be found.

“I went to see my wife on June 6, and the baby was gone,” Ahmed said. “I searched everywhere. My wife said the baby had not been brought to her. When we raised an alarm, I was even arrested for speaking too loudly.”

Baby Found, But Questions Multiply

Weeks later, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, and the Sierra Leone Police announced that a baby believed to be the missing child had been recovered at Segbwema Government Hospital in Kailahun District. Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Isata Mahoi, disclosed that the baby was rescued by a nurse identified as Magdalene.

However, the situation became complicated when two families claimed the baby.

The Vambio family said they were later called to identify the child. Ahmed said his sister, who had been closely involved during Katimu’s hospital stay, confirmed the baby was theirs. Yet authorities informed them that another family was also claiming the child, and a DNA test would be required.

Unable to afford the cost, the Vambios said they were devastated when the baby was placed in interim care.

“My wife has never even touched her baby,” Ahmed said quietly. “This has traumatized her completely.”

DNA Results: ‘The Baby Is Not Yours’

A DNA test was eventually conducted in mid-November 2025. According to the Vambio family, they were informed during a closed session that the baby was not biologically theirs.

“The news shattered our lives,” Ahmed said. “We lost our child twice, once when he went missing, and again when we were told he was not ours.”

The results were not publicly announced, prompting concerns about transparency in a case that has gripped national attention.

Authorities Respond

When contacted for clarification, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Daniel Albert Gbow, explained that the DNA report was read at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the presence of the Family Support Unit (FSU), the ministry, and other key stakeholders.

“The DNA result confirmed that the baby is not biologically linked to the Vambio family,” Gbow stated. “The child is of mixed race, which further ruled out the claim.”

He added that authorities are still tracing the second family that initially claimed the baby.

“The ministry cannot hand over a child without certainty. We are following due process,” he said. “The baby remains under government protection while investigations continue.”

Gbow also revealed that while both families initially came forward, only the Vambio family consistently followed up on the baby’s welfare. The other alleged family has not remained actively engaged.

Calls for Justice and Answers

The Vambio family is now calling for justice, transparency, and accountability, particularly regarding what happened at PCMH on the day two families reportedly lost their babies.

“If the baby is not ours, then where is our child?” Ahmed asked. “And where is the other family’s baby?”

As police investigations continue, the case has raised serious concerns about maternity ward safety, record-keeping, and accountability within public health institutions.

A Nation Still Waiting

For now, one baby remains in state care. One family has been told the child they mourned is not theirs. Another family is yet to be located. And two mothers may have left PCMH on the same day without the babies they delivered.

As Sierra Leone waits for answers, the PCMH missing baby case stands as one of the country’s most troubling maternity ward mysteries, one that continues to test public trust and the resilience of families caught at its centre.