POLICE RESCUE TWO ABANDONED BABIES IN ABUJA, LAUNCH SEARCH FOR THEIR MOTHERS
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rescued two newborn babies abandoned in separate communities in Abuja as authorities raise concerns over recurring cases of infant abandonment across the FCT.
FCT Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh disclosed that one of the babies, a boy, was discovered abandoned inside an uncompleted building in Kurudu.
According to Adeh, the discovery came just days after another newborn baby, a girl, was found abandoned in Gwagwalada.
“This newborn baby I have in my hands was abandoned by the mother, whom we don’t know, at an uncompleted building in Kurudu,” Adeh said.
She revealed that police have recorded similar cases in several communities across the FCT, including Durumi and Gwagwalada.
Adeh expressed concern about what she described as a troubling pattern and questioned why mothers were abandoning newborn children.
“What could be the issue? Who are these women? What is the problem? Why are they abandoning these infants? What is the story behind it?” she asked.
BABIES TO BE PLACED UNDER SOCIAL WELFARE CARE
Police said the rescued baby in Kurudu would be transferred to Social Welfare officials, as authorities had done with babies rescued in previous cases.
Chief Social Welfare Officer with the FCT Child Development Department, Leman Lawan, said the child would undergo medical examination before being placed in appropriate care.
According to Lawan, the baby could remain under foster care arrangements for between three and six months before further decisions are made concerning long term fostering.
The immediate priority is ensuring that the rescued children receive appropriate medical attention, protection and care.
POLICE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS
The FCT Police Command says investigations will continue in an effort to establish the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the babies and identify those responsible.
Adeh said police would also increase public sensitisation in communities where cases of infant abandonment have been reported.
The latest incidents have renewed concerns about unwanted pregnancies, economic hardship, lack of family support and access to social services for vulnerable mothers.
However, police have not established the individual circumstances that led to these particular babies being abandoned.
Authorities are urging members of the public with relevant information to assist investigators as efforts continue to identify the mothers and determine what happened.
VNTV
