A British tourist, Alvina Agba, 23, has been detained in America after she allegedly grabbed a crying boy, 4, from his mother and refused to hand him back.
Alvina Omisri Agba had spent her vacation in the US and appeared to be on her way out when she found herself in a security check queue with a mother, Nadine Joseph, and her son at Miami International Airport on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The boy was crying about 4 am, disturbing the serenity of the place, and Agba reportedly offered to comfort him. The mother consented to this and paid no further attention.
However, when Joseph looked back to check on her son and Alvina Agba, they were nowhere to be seen.
Police officers from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said Joseph abandoned the queue and went in search of her son.
She reportedly found him and Agba sitting on the ground and attempted to retrieve her son, but faced resistance from Agba.
The tourist reportedly wrapped her arms and legs around the boy so his mother could not wrench him away.
At some point, Agba allegedly pushed the mother of the boy away as they both struggled for him.
Joseph reportedly succeeded in getting her son out of the embrace of the suspect, but the tourist won’t give up.
She reportedly held on to the boy’s legs until the boy screamed in fright. The scream attracted Natylet Montano, who was working at the check-in counter for Global Crossing Airlines.
Montano reportedly intervened and took the boy behind the counter. Agba reportedly attempted to enter the area to retrieve the boy, prompting officials to call 911 for assistance.
Agba reportedly continued to insist on getting the boy, but more people blocked her way.
Police arrest Alvina Agba
Witnesses said when the suspect realised the police had been contacted, she fled the scene, but was captured later.
Agba reportedly told the police she wanted to take the boy to a wall painted with a rainbow so he could calm down.
When asked why she refused to give up the boy to his mother when she asked, she claimed she did not remember the encounter.
To another question, she responded that she did what she did because God told her to do it.
The police say the boy sustained deep scratches to his neck, but not serious enough to warrant a hospital trip.
He was able to continue his journey with his mother.
The police say their preliminary investigations did not establish that Agba was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
She has been slammed with a charge of interfering with custody and battery.
Agba is currently being detained at the Turner Guilford Correctional Centre.
