The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a woman, Khadija Ali, for abandoning her one-day-old baby along a bush path near Crush Rock, behind the uncompleted Red Bricks Market in Mpape, Abuja.
In a statement on Sunday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, revealed that the baby was rescued following a distress call received on Friday at about 10:00 a.m. Officers from the Mpape Division’s Juvenile and Women Care Section (JWC) found the infant wrapped in cloth.
The baby was promptly taken to Mpape Primary Health Care Center for medical evaluation, where it was confirmed to be in stable condition.
“Following a tip-off from the community, the baby’s mother, Khadija Ali, was arrested. During interrogation, she confessed to abandoning the child, citing her inability to care for the baby after her husband deserted her,” the statement read.
The police condemned the act, emphasizing their dedication to protecting vulnerable individuals. The baby will be handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for proper care, while the mother will face prosecution under the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003.
The Command extended gratitude to the public for their cooperation and encouraged residents to report emergencies using its emergency lines.
This incident highlights the critical need for support systems for women and children in vulnerable circumstances.