In a heartbreaking and deeply disturbing incident, residents of Jikoko village in Mpape, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, woke up on Saturday morning to the shocking sight of a day-old baby abandoned by the roadside.
The newborn baby, believed to be less than 24 hours old, was discovered wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a cardboard carton near a bush path, not far from a poultry farm that lies on the outskirts of the community.
According to eyewitnesses, the baby, who was still alive when found, appeared cold and distressed, sparking outrage and concern among members of the community. One resident, who identified himself as Aliyu, said the baby was discovered around 6:30 a.m. by passersby who initially thought the carton was just discarded waste.
“We were shocked to see that there was a baby inside. It was wrapped with cloth and looked like it had been dropped there at night,” Aliyu said. “Some women quickly gathered to warm the child while we called the police.”
The FCT Police Command has confirmed the incident. In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the baby was rescued and immediately taken to a nearby health facility for medical examination and stabilization.
“Yes, we can confirm the incident. The baby has been handed over to the social welfare department after receiving initial care. An investigation is ongoing to trace the mother of the child and to understand the circumstances that led to this act,” Adeh stated.
The case has reopened the conversation about rising cases of child abandonment across the FCT and the urgent need for expanded social support services, particularly for vulnerable women.
This incident is not an isolated one. In January 2025, a similar case occurred in Mpape, where a newborn was found dumped near the Crush Rock area behind the uncompleted Red Bricks Market. The mother, who was later arrested, reportedly confessed that she left the baby due to severe economic hardship and an inability to care for the child.
In December 2024, the FCT Police Command raised alarm over the increasing frequency of child abandonment cases, warning that the trend reflected deeper socio-economic issues facing women, especially young single mothers.
In a previous briefing, FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, had decried what he described as a “silent crisis” affecting communities in the territory. He called for strengthened family support systems, affordable healthcare, and improved access to reproductive education.
> “We must stop the cycle of neglect and hopelessness that leads to a mother choosing the bush over a hospital or shelter,” he said during the December address.
In Jikoko, the discovery has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many locals. Community leader, Chief Joshua Egya, described the act as “inhuman,” calling on the FCT Administration to increase its outreach and community welfare interventions in rural and semi-urban areas like Mpape.
> “This is a cry for help. Any mother who goes to the extent of abandoning a newborn baby is not acting out of wickedness but likely out of helplessness. We need more public enlightenment and better access to shelters, food aid, and maternal care,” Egya said.
He added that many girls in the community had dropped out of school due to unplanned pregnancies and lack of support, a trend he believes is fuelling social decay.
As of the time of filing this report, the rescued infant is in stable condition and currently being cared for by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Social Welfare Department. Authorities say the baby will remain under government custody while the investigation continues.
If the mother is eventually located, she could face charges relating to child endangerment or attempted infanticide under Nigerian law. However, child rights activists are calling for a more empathetic approach.
“Punishment alone cannot solve this problem,” says Victoria Ogaga, an Abuja-based gender rights advocate. “We need a system that identifies at-risk mothers early, offers counseling, and creates avenues for safe surrendering of babies without fear of criminalization.”