On Sunday, the Federal Capital Command (FCT) Police Command reported the recovery of a one-day-old baby abandoned in Mpape, a suburb of the city.
The infant was reportedly abandoned along a bush path near Crush Rock, behind the uncompleted Red Bricks Market, Mpape.
A statement by the command, signed by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said police operatives in Mpape Division found the infant on January 3, at about 10 am, wrapped in a cloth.
The Division’s Juvenile and Women Care Section (JWC) responded to a distress call from concerned residents, after which the child was taken to Mpape Primary Health Care Center.
The police said the baby was confirmed to be in a stable condition after medical evaluation.
The police also confirmed the arrest of the baby’s mother, Khadija Ali, relying on a tip-off from the community.
The statement read, “During interrogation, she confessed to abandoning the baby, citing her inability to care for the child following her husband’s abandonment.
“The FCT Police Command vehemently condemns this act of child abandonment and reassures the public of its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
“The rescued baby will be handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for proper care, while the mother will face prosecution according to the provisions of sections 14 and 16 of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003 upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The Command appreciates the cooperation and support of members of the public in this matter and calls on all residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or emergencies via the Command emergency lines: 08061581938, 08032003913, 08028940883, CRU: 08107314192, PCB: 09022222352.”