The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued a day-old baby abandoned along a bush path near Crush Rock, behind the uncompleted Red Bricks Market in Mpape, Abuja.
The rescue operation occurred on January 3, 2025, at about 10:00 AM, following a distress call received by the Mpape Division’s Juvenile and Women Care Section (JWC).
Police operatives found the infant wrapped in cloth and promptly transported the child to the Mpape Primary Health Care Center. Medical personnel confirmed that the baby is in stable condition.
Subsequent investigations, aided by community members, led to the arrest of the baby’s mother, identified as Khadija Ali. During questioning, Ali confessed to abandoning the child, citing her inability to care for the baby after being abandoned by her husband.
The FCT Police Command has condemned the act of child abandonment, describing it as unacceptable and a violation of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003.
According to the Command, the rescued baby will be handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for appropriate care, while the mother will face prosecution under sections 14 and 16 of the CRA upon the conclusion of investigations.
SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation and vigilance, urging residents to continue reporting suspicious activities or emergencies.
The Command provided emergency contact numbers for residents to report such incidents, emphasizing its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
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