A Kpando Circuit Court has sentenced a 31-year-old woman to three years' imprisonment for abducting an eight-month-old baby at Kpando Market in the Volta Region.

The convict, Stella Amedzorme, pleaded guilty to the offence after she was arrested by the Volta North Regional Police Command, which also rescued the child unharmed less than 24 hours after the abduction.

According to the police, the incident occurred on July 17, when the baby's 21-year-old mother, Gloria Xagbe, briefly left her son in Amedzorme's care while she went to buy packaging bags at the market.

However, when she returned, both the woman and her eight-month-old son had disappeared.

The matter was immediately reported to the police, who launched investigations and intelligence-led operations to trace the suspect and the missing child.

Police said Amedzorme was arrested on July 18 at Toviate, a suburb of Kwamekrom in the Oti Region, where officers successfully rescued the baby.

During investigations, the suspect admitted taking the child on the instructions of her fiancé, who remains on the run.

The police said efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the man to assist with ongoing investigations into the case.

Court records show that Amedzorme first appeared before the Kpando Circuit Court on July 20, where she was remanded into police custody.

She reappeared before the court on August 3, pleaded guilty to the charge, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

The rescued baby was found unharmed and has since been reunited with the family.

Following the conviction, the Volta North Regional Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and ensuring offenders are brought to justice.

The Command also urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and exercise caution when leaving their children in the care of others, even in familiar surroundings.

Police added that investigations remain ongoing as officers continue efforts to arrest the convict's fiancé, whom they believe played a role in the abduction.