The Ajumako District Police Command has launched a manhunt for a woman believed to be in her early 50s, who was captured on CCTV allegedly stealing an 11-month-old baby from the Ajumako market in the Central Region.

The disturbing footage, retrieved from a CCTV camera installed at the market centre, shows the woman walking away briskly with the infant after luring the baby’s caregiver into a conversation.

According to the child’s mother, Esi Sekyiwaa, she had left the baby in the care of her sister-in-law while selling cassava at the market.

The suspect reportedly approached the caregiver under the pretense of offering help, but took advantage of a moment of distraction to flee with the child.

“When I returned and asked for my baby, my sister-in-law told me the woman had taken her. We were shocked,” the distraught mother told Adom News, breaking down in tears.

Upon reviewing the CCTV footage, family members confirmed that the woman was seen leaving the market with the baby.

They suspect the woman may have come from Winneba, Apam, or Mankessim and have called on the police and the general public to help locate her and rescue the child.

The Ajumako police are appealing to anyone with relevant information to report to the nearest police station to assist with investigations.